The opening hours of flashing lights, rhythmic beats and savage hunger for all things intoxicating were all that the world really knew about Nightclubs. Liquid Envy was no different, and as the top nightclub in Newark it was visited by many people. However keeping a nightclub like Liquid Envy on top form required a lot more work than people cared to think about.
First there was the hours of 8pm-10pm where the bar staff, front of house and all those who had been lucky enough to snatch a job in this dying financial climate started to filter into the building. Once everyone was there, last minute checks were made, promo teams got sent out to the streets of Newark to coax the patrons to their venue. It was easily done with a promise of good music and even better deals on the alcohol the public craved; all to bring the club to its 1,600 person capacity. The night would then go on from 10pm, bar staff running ragged, door staff turning away those who failed to even try and dress up whilst the front of house staff served with a strained smile. All of it was orchestrated to flow as perfectly as it could before the fights started,ranging from arguments over entry fee to the spilling of drinks and general scraps from those who were too intoxicated to function. Fights always were expected when you had drink and 1,600 people in a confined area. After a night of dancing, drinking, puking and attempts to lure a mate back home, it all came down to the 4am close. The Dj would turn down the music, patrons would stagger out and that would be all the public saw of the glitzy club for another night. Though the workers of Liquid were far from done. Tills needed to be cashed, accident reports had to be filed, bars cleaned, bottles removed from the floor and glasses stacked before the staff could finally end their shift to drag their weary bodies home.
Not everyone got that luxury though.
Management, or rather the three that made up the unit, would leave soon after only to return at 8am. They'd then work through the day to replace stock, see that the club was cleaned, that all the complicated paperwork was in order, to find new deals and to set up any theme nights before 4pm rolled by. Only then could they head home and hope to catch some sleep before they were dragged right back to start all over again come 8pm.
This was very much the repetitive routine that kept Almeis, or "Almeis" about as worn out and tired as it was humanly possible to be. As the Deputy manager and second in command to the General manager ( Voland Ampora, AKA "Dualscar",) he had to work harder than most considering that their "assistant manager" was actually the head barman Cronus. . . And Cronus was spectacularly bad at managements duties, meaning Dualscar and Almeis had to make up for his failures almost constantly. If Cronus wasn't flirting on the job or trying to promote his shitty music, he was usually skulking off somewhere for a cigarette. Almeis was certain that if it wasn't for the fact Cronus was a) Dualscar's brother and b) the best barman they'd ever found; that he'd have been sacked a long time ago because of how badly he let them down in every other area. Infact it was Cronus's failings that had forced Almeis to be here at the pubwatch meeting on his day off.
"Pubwatch" was yet another thing people did not realize was a part of running a nightclub as it was rarely spoken about outside of work. Once a month, the pubs and clubs in the area would meet and go over a list of names from the local police force. Each name on there was a person who had been barred from a club or pub or perhaps someone who was known to be a nuisance or a trouble maker. It was essentially a list of who not to be seen letting into their venues to keep up a good face and to keep the Police happy. Reputation was everything in this industry and Liquid Envy had the best in the city. For now.
"Ah, Almeis, welcome, you're the second to arrive today"
The voice snapped the weary eyed man from his thoughts and he barely glanced at the barman who placed his tea in front of him. He was fairly regular at this particular pub as it was directly opposite where he worked. The close proximity meant that he was always dipping in for a cup of tea or a light meal rather than go all the way back home so he was well known by the staff. It was to the point they always had tea in for him as Almeis was never big on drink; and he returned the favour by allowing them to call on the door staff from his club if they had trouble in the evening when both places were open.
"The second you say? I am somewhat surprised as this is the table the meeting is supposedly being held at," He frowned, watching the barman nod and then walk off without word. Almeis thought that it was a little rude of him not to elaborate on the matter but he needn't have waited long for his curiosity to be satisfied.
"Well well, Almeis motherfucking Captor. Shit, I had to see it to believe it"
That gritty,low growl of a voice was unmistakable, even after all these years. It was so familiar that he did not needed to look up from his cup of tea to know that it belonged to the behemoth of a man who then sat down besides him.
"Is it really that amazing that I am still in existence? Or are you merely amazed that I didn't turn out to be a figment of your imagination?" he said, sipping on the sweet tea he loved so much and still not giving the other man the satisfaction of acknowledging him with eye contact. So many years had passed since their last meeting and the incident was still fairly raw in his mind. It was certain that looking at the other would bring on a flash back so Almeis kept his eyes elsewhere.
"You're still a snarky little cunt aren't you? Turn those dual coloured peepers my way brother and let this joker see how much you've up and changed. Never took you as a motherfucker to be rude," came the voice. Almeis could tell by the smug tone alone that he was probably wearing a shit eating smirk on his face and so he turned to see if he was correct in his assumption. He was, however he hadn't expected to see such intensity of the pale blue eyes that had stayed with him from so long ago. They stood out so strongly against the mess of long black hair that fell around his painted face that they seemed practically white. The only thing bigger than his hair was the hulking great form of muscle and such that was apparent even under the black hoodie he was wearing. The juggalo was still very much as he remembered him, if only older and larger.
"And you are eloquent as ever, Nashir Makara" he replied, not easing on the sarcastic tone that he laced his words with. Nashir did nothing but chuckle darkly as he took a gulp of his hobgoblin ale, setting the large glass on the table with an audible thud. It seemed he was still as careless as Almeis remembered him to be. "Though, admittedly, I am unsure why you are in Newark of all places when your parting words gave the indication you would not be returning here."
Nashir didn't take his eyes off of him for a moment or so as if he was recalling that very incident from his past before he turned and leaned back in his seat, the lop sided smirk still present. "The dark carnival takes a motherfucker strange places, seems my ass got dragged back home because my little shit of a sibling is thick as fuck. Boy needs to get schooled on a few things. Called in some favours from the headmaster, can't say there is any fucker in this town that doesn't owe me shit."
"You are fooling yourself if you are considering me amongst that number," Almeis uttered, setting down his tea in the saucer for the moment. If there was one person you didn't want to be indebted to, it was Nashir. "I am however somewhat annoyed at myself for having not realized the obvious. I should have known you would have something to do with an attraction such as 'The Dark Carnival.' Whom else would come up with something so entirely horrific and fascinating at once. I'm guessing you finally took over the circus you were formerly part of?"
Grinning slightly wider, the gold lip ring seemed to glint in the light to add to the smug expression on Nashir's face. The juggalo clearly appreciated that was a compliment coming from someone like Almeis. "Hah, damn right motherfucker. I'm running that miraculous show and have been doing a fine fucking job of it too. Been having some trouble with some fuck ups trying to bust into the trailers so I hauled my ass here to pubwatch to get the lowdown on the local scumbags. Didn't expect you though. Little Almeis all suited and motherfucking booted." He smirked, looking over the sharp suit that Almeis was currently wearing.
Watching the pale blue eyes, the look Nashir gave him was like a hungry dog that had just found its favorite dish had gotten a whole lot better; however Almeis knew just what would wipe the expression right off of his face as he spoke softly as ever."I am here in place of Dualscar."
"WHAT? Are you taking the fucking piss?" he snarled, the smirk having mutated into a scowl so menacing that the faint hearted would have been reduced to a cowering mess. Almeis however, merely nodded in confirmation and once again picked up his saucer and tea cup, taking a light sip before he explained further."It is not how it seems, thank god. No, it is simply that I am working in the same venue as him. He has given me an assistant managers job in order to support my younger brothers. Admittedly, he works me like a dog for the pitiful amount that I am on. . . But I will make it clear there was little choice in the matter of accepting the job. It was a secure position in a city where there have been literal fights for employment so naturally I took it. . . It is not as bad as before. . ."
"All that tells me motherfucker is that you're being paid this time round."
"It is not like that."Almeis snapped, narrowing his eyes at the other as he set his drink back down once more. "As if I would allow myself to get into that sort of situation once again- this is neither the time nor the place to talk about such things. Fuck, you have barely been here 15 minutes and you're already causing fucking trouble."
Looking amused for a fleeting moment that he had managed to stir some emotion in the otherwise blank faced man. Nashir was otherwise stern faced usually but being about the other always seemed to get that smirk creeping up. Thinking about pointing this out to the huge juggalo, he stopped as he glanced at the other men coming to join them at the table for the meeting. They all greeted Almeis like an old friend and it amused him to see them looking at Nashir with caution.
"Another time then, Almeis." Nashir murmured, giving a knowing look as he leant in and whispered to his ear. "Meet me in a repeat of when you paid your Debt to me. Saturday, 12pm."
With that, the meeting began and neither of the two men spoke another word to one another.
-taciturnClown [TC] began trolling twistedAffliction [TA] at 12:23 -
TC: :o)
TA: WH47 WH04R3 Y0U
TC: YOU FORGOTTEN ABOUT THIS WICKED CLOWN ALREADY BROTHER? ITS KURLOZ, YOUR DIGITS CAME UP LINKED TO THIS TROLLIAN ACCOUNT SO I GOT PESTERING
TA: WH4H7 50RC3RY7H 17H 7H15
TC: WHO KNOWS MY BROKEN MOTHERFUCKER. DID YOU MANAGE TO GET YOUR RAD SELF BACK TO YOUR RESIDENCE?
TA: Y37H5
TC: :o)
TA: 1 C4N D0 7H053
TA: 8 )
TC: :o)
TA: 8 D
TC: :o)
TA: 8 )
TC: :o)
TA: 8 )
TC: :o)
TA: 8 )
TC: :o/
TA: 8 ?
TC: :o|
TA: 8 (
TA: 1M 50RRY
TC: YOU ARE FINE MY MOST SACCHARINE HOMIE. GOT MY HEAD SPINNING IN ALL SORTS OF CONFUSION AS TO THE EMOTES
TA: 1 D0N7H57 KN0W 1D0N7H57 U55U4LLY 73577H M07H3RFUCK3R5
TA: 1 0NLYH57 U53DH 17 7W0 7WLL3D WH3R3 1 4M
TC: WORD. LET'S SCHOOL YOU ON HOW TO USE THIS DEVICE FOR SOME WICKED COMMUNICATIONS
TA: Y37H57 1 D0 W4NK 70 7H3 C0MMUN1C47105N
TC: FIRST THINGS FIRST MITUNA. WE'LL USE THIS TO TALK ABOUT THE SHIT WE GET UP TO AND MAKE SOME WICKED RENDEZVOUS PLANS
TC: I AM SADLY STUCK IN THIS CESSPOOL OF A CITY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE AND MY PUSHER SAYS TO BUST OPEN SOME DRINKS WITH A TWITCHY NINJA
TA: C4N 1 M3337 7H47 NN1NJ4 700?
TC: THE NINJA IS YOU
TA: 1M 50 N1NJ4D 1 DIDN7 KN0W 1 W47H
TC: WORD. LETS GET THIS MIRTHFUL MOTHERFUCKIN MEET PLANNED AND WE SHALL ONCE AGAIN SHARE SOME WICKED TIMES :o)
TA: 0K L37 M3 45K 50LLUX7H
TC: DON'T ASK THAT SCRAWNY FUCK ANY SORT OF SHIT. YOU ARE GOING TO PLAN THIS WITH APLOMB AND EXERCISE YOUR CAPABILITIES.
TA: 4LL 7H3 FUCK Y37H. 7U35D4Y 47 1222
TC: WHERE :o?
TA: H3R3
TC: THAT DOESN'T HELP THIS JOKER AT ALL IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE MOTHERFUCK HERE IS
twistedAffliction sent: photo14829png
TC: IS THAT A PHOTO OF AN ENVELOPE? LEAST I GOT YOUR COORDINATES NOW BROTHER
TC: THE AWESOMEST OF PLANS HAVE BEEN LAID FORTH AND WILL BE SEEN TO FRUITION
TA: WH4H47
TC: I'LL SEE YOU TUESDAY.
-taciturnClown [TC] ceased trolling twistedAffliction [TA] at 13:45 -
10 years ago. . .
Awkward was an understatement. Hell, he had seen and done some strange things in his time but Nashir had never unknowingly cockblocked someone. Well, that's how it had seemed at first when he'd happened across the two teenagers but in review of the situation, it seemed more complicated than that.
Now smoking a cigarette, the slender teen besides him looked cold and without emotion as Nashir watched him with interest. Really, there was not a lot he could think to say and he was thinking about walking off when the other man spoke up in a voice so devoid of joy it was slightly unnerving even to a man such as himself.
" . . . thankyou. . ."
"For what? Shit brother, all I fucking did was walk the fuck past. That hero shit is not my fucking style," Nashir grunted, feigning disinterest and indifference at him as cigarette smoke dissipated into the air. Damn, this guy was deadpanned in expression. He half wondered if he'd ever used that as a poker face.
"That as it may be, the act was stopped and I am spared my debt for now. . ."
Debt? Now this shit had gotten a little more interesting and it went someway to explain why that posh looking guy had been stuffing his cock down this poor fuckers throat. The image was still disturbingly potent in his head and he cringed a bit. He was all for voyeurism and kinks but the scene had just been so. . . wrong even by his standards. Perhaps it was a drugs debt? His mind suddenly took on a different train of thought as Nashir saw a golden opportunity to get a new customer.
"You'd better get on and explain your shit motherfucker. I don't give much of a fuck usually but this city's my fucking turf and I'll be damned if some other asshole thinks he can be spreading around the wicked products without my motherfucking say so," he growled.
Snorting bitterly and taking another drag, the other man shook his head and exhaled long and slow, like he was trying to breathe out his troubles. A slight feeling of curiosity made Nashir let his attentions focus on him. Short black hair, a blue and red eye, damn that shit was weird from the second he'd met him but for someone so young, it looked like he had the weight of the world on him.
"Far from it. No, I took a gift of money to aid my upbringing of my brothers since my father passed away. I had somewhat imagined I would be able to pay it back in cash but he will not accept such things when he has so much money already. . . As it is, he takes his payment as he chooses. . . Unfortunately for me, it seems he requires physical payment. As loathed as I am to give it, he is a powerful being in the sense he has many connections about town and threatens to make my brother's lives far more difficult than they are already. . . "
Falling silent for a moment, Nashir was surprised really. Who the fuck would turn down money? That shit was hard enough to earn as it was but he supposed that swanky looking git whom had been getting his payment was probably loaded from what he'd been told. What struck him most odd though, was that this person appeared to be in something of a similar situation to his own in the sense that he had two younger brothers to provide for.
". . . What's your name bro?"
"Almeis Captor. . . I do appreciate the cigarette you gave me however that is by no means an invitation for you to spread this. . .'incident' around. . . I am already aware of your name. Your reputation precedes you in a rather negative way," Almeis said, tilting those dual coloured eyes in his direction.
The fucking audacity of that fucker! no one dared speak like that to him! Nashir had earned his reputation both as a dealer and as the local "do not fuck with this guy" for good reasons. Hell he'd been removed years ago from the local secondary school for putting the teachers head through a window and had served a small jail sentence for it. Part of him had a good mind to give this fuckers neck a good squeeze but instead, he smirked and folded his arms, turning to face the other a little more. For starts it was refreshing to talk to someone without them near pissing themselves; and second, A debt was a debt but there was a little something to be gained in helping the other. Newark was his stomping ground so all debts should be owed to him, not some fucking rich boy with an aching dick. This was going to be no exception.
"Alright then motherfucker, I'll up and strike you a deal which benefits the both of us and gets you out the shit with that priss who was gagging you. Lend me those ears and listen the motherfuck up if you're all up and interested."
Almeis seemed to quirk a brow and it caused an expression on him that Nashir thought was. . . he didn't know. It made him feel a deep hunger when he looked at the pale skin and the patchy albinised part. This one was something slightly unusual in an understated, subtle way but Nashir was certain he could pick apart the pieces and get to whatever was under that cold exterior. Hell, always good to break someone interesting apart, and Almeis was very, very interesting.
"Elaborate. . . "
"I'll wipe that fucking debt from you and you'll be indebted to me instead. Ain't got no business choking your throat up like that but you'll owe this motherfucker big style," he said, rolling his shoulders and cracking the joints a little as he stood at his full height. He was easily intimidating as he loomed over the smoking teen.
Almeis didn't seem too daunted however and turned from the other. "You will need to clarify your terms first."
"You gone to see the motherfucking carnival yet bro?"
"Not yet. . .Tickets are somewhat hard to come by and it is not exactly child friendly. . . I cannot be spending money when my brothers are in need of things such as food and uniforms for school," he said dryly, as if he had been asked something of a stupid question. Fuck, was that a little hint of emotion? Nashir would be making sure he saw more of that, he was certain about it.
"Get your ass down to the mirthful tents on Saturday morning. Bring your little bro's I got some cool motherfuckers who need a playmate or two," he smirked, seeming wicked and dark as he loomed over the other. "You'll motherfucking be there or-"
Almeis cut him off, looking right back at him with a burning something in his eyes, what it was he didn't know but Nashir was a little taken aback. "-I will not be taking my little brothers anywhere if I feel it will put them in harms way and I certainly fucking won't be letting them anywhere near-oh. . . who are they?"
In the time Almeis had been about to scold him, Nashir had produced a photo. It was a little worn but showed himself and two smaller boys with the same mess of black hair and donning clown grease just like the behemoth of a man they were sat with.
"These are my little brothers and these wicked motherfuckers don't have any bro's to play with," he said, a little quieter than before as he tucked the photo away again. "Be there on Saturday, midday. I'll get to keeping up my end of the motherfucking deal."
". . . so be it." Almeis muttered, flicking the remains of the cigarette down to the ground before starting to walk away.
Nashir didn't add anything to that, he didn't need to. Something told him Almeis was as good as his word and a little playdate would do Gamzee and Kurloz the world of good. That and he could start to pry Almeis apart. . . Something told him there was a very interesting core underneath that icy shell of his.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Name choices.
The name for The Grand Highblood [Nashir] is a shortened version of Nashira, a star in the Capricorn constellation. Almeis is also a shortened version of a star in the geminiorum constellation.