At the Lagoon Company offices...
There was a woman with a tattooed arm, slightly tanned skin, wearing a black tank top and some Daisy dukes; she was sitting on the living room couch, with her legs in combat boots crossed and lying on the small table in front of her. She read a cheap magazine, turning the page every 20 seconds. Nothing interesting to read, since it dealt with very banal things like show business, fashion or vehicles for sale etc... Usually she could waste time; getting drunk, gambling, giving keeping her berettas modified from her or the above: read the stupid magazine.
But, the point is, ¿Why wasn't she immersed in the pages? It's not that she was a picky eater or someone very selective about magazines, because that was the purpose of them; kill time and get distracted; ¿So? ¿What had it changed in all these years in which she, remarkably, was still alive? When she was younger, she did seem like a good way to get lost in.
It's not that she was a big believer that no matter how many years passed you would soften...
Not her; There was still plenty of good carnage in the tank for a loose it.
.- Dam it... .- She cursed under her breath as she turned a page again .- Dutch... ¡Hey! .- She called the man who was about 3 steps in front of the table where his lower limbs rested.
Corpulent, serene, dark skim and bald; Dutch was the captain of this crew that has stayed afloat since it all began. He was relaxing, on the verge of sleep in his recliner, his second most important and beloved purchase since his Black Lagoon boat. When there was nothing else to do and the bed failed him, he always counted on the chair.
Dutch, some time ago, had considered shaving his small, gray beard; He doesn't want any more signs or reminders that he's getting older and that any street thug or 3rd class gangster wannabe, who has no fucking idea who he is, would mess with him; luckily and with many contacts, that did not happen so often. He seriously consider it...
But Rock was the only one in the crew to give him her support to let him have it. Proposing that looked more mature and wise in a rather affable tone, characteristic of him... It was a total trifle, ¿Why not? It was absurd to put his own safety on a semi-beard, when he could leave her alone for this aesthetic, regardless of Revy and Benny's almost inaudible mockery.
Without clearing his head from the headboard or even opening his eyes, he answers: ¿What's wrong, Revy? ¿Mm? .- He wasn't so unconscious to notice the noise of Revy turning the pages so quickly, He faintly remembered that it took her a little longer to do it.
.- ¿So you're not asleep? Nice...
.- I will be shortly if you don't speak... .- He responds with very little frown.
.- Do it, it would give me the opportunity to throw this last beer at you .- She counterattacks in sarcasm, without clearing his view of the magazine, apparently rereading it again.
.- Cut it out already, Two hands, please... .- Dutch says, almost in a captain's tone. Of course messing with him is just wasting your time, especially when there is not even an iota of fear. Revy thought for almost 2 minutes. That was hers way of saying important things, vainly lightening the mood, avoiding the point, ¿Was it hers fault? Maybe not everyone reads minds like Rock and Benny was almost mastered like him. The captain was another story...
.- ...
.- ...
.- ... Dutch...
.- ...
.- ... ¿Do you believe in fate? .- She finally managed to say, blinking at him and then returning to the stupid endless magazine .- ¿Do you believe in it?
.- ¿What do you mean by that, Revy? .- The man responds in a serene tone, slowly opening his eyes in the direction of the woman, but still without moving. Thinking about it, maybe he should have fallen asleep when still had the chance, but even then she would only bother him more until she left.
.- Jeez... Don't answer me with another question you fool, just answer mine. That's all .- Now she responds with a somewhat frowned brow, Revy lets the pages of the magazine turn and looks at the impassive man.
.- I'm sorry, but I know what this is like, Two hands. I try to play my cards well so as not to extend this and relax .- Dutch clarified, gradually irritating Revy, not because he was right, but because by suggesting iccesarimantely that she was a picky girl, at least Eda or Rock would spit it in her face as a brake, without putting so many detours into it. ¿Why couldn't you ever play with the captain? After so many years she still has to deal with those shitty details... .- I think these are the kind of questions you would ask Rock... or some drunk out there, ¿you know, right?
Comically, part of Dutch believed he was stepping on a minefield, while some sniper was stalking him; Pressing revy's buttons was never a good option. It was probably due to the comfortable chair, free from temporal worries. Here comes, he was preparing for some avalanche of obscenities that Revy was sure to unleash on him, ¿When wouldn't she? For him, time is almost as if it didn't really pass and everyone was still the same crew whom he had to direct and coordinate...
Strangely, none of that came, Revy stayed without saying anything for 3 mins in a row. Ok ¿What the fuck was going on? ¿Where are the hidden cameras? The dark skim's man contemplated Revy in that period of time; his legs were still on the table, but the magazine was no longer in hand, but rather the beer that was about to finish.
.- GULP, GULP .- Having taken the last sip, Revy throws the can towards the small trash can next to it and puts it in the basket, leaning his arms on the back of the sofa and looking down at him. The brow was still frowned but a little more softened .- Ha... ¿Benny's comedian is rubbing off on you too, huh, lil shit?
Sarcasm was part of the routine, but not this kind, generally, Revy would be irritated and tell him to go to hell, or she would bite her tongue as best as possible to get him the answer she wanted, similar to a pressure hole on the edge of the burst. She wasn't biting her tongue, much less was she a pressure pit... Was as calm as the deadliest track. An almost pacified Revy looks up from her to Dutch again; the eyes connect, the sensation of the abyss making you blink was on the back of his neck. He was familiar with the feeling of course.
.- Maybe you didn't hear me well, or maybe I didn't formulate myself well so... Again, Dutch.
.- ...
.- ¿Do you believe in fate...?
.- ...
Revy's surprising composure aside, he composes himself, then yes. No sleeping for now. The little sleep he had left dwindled like polluting truck or car, he slowly moved his head, detaching it from the headboard, a sign that his brain was now at 90% to pay attention, resolve and attach a "decent" response. Revy didn't notice it, either because of the black glasses that the captain had, his eyes were somewhat narrowed as a sign of analysis and uncertainty... ¿Why? ¿Why? ¿Why? Dutch assured that if Revy would have caught Benny Boy In his place this would have lasted much less, not to mention Rock, Mr. unpredictable business.
.- SIGH... .- He finally resigned .- No Revy, I don't believe in fate, or that there has to be a shitty cosmic reason for something to happen. It's just life being life more .- The captain answers as articulately as possible. He would play along for now, the disbelief of what was happening here would be his faithful witness .- Excuse my little skepticism, seriously... But it is something curious that you, Revy Two Hands, the woman of labor, who puts money first, a living dead with no way out, is asking me that .- He says In all seriousness, he wasn't trying to outwit her again, it was useless.
Revy expressed a small sly smile in return .- "¿A lot of cosmic trash, huh?" I think the same, what happens is that... - She cuts off the sentence, was also trying to articulate the correct words .- I've been telling myself that all these years, Dutch.
.- Aw, i ain' noticed...
.- Haha... For real. I mean, this is what our line of work is like, life as a method of violence, from the moment you start to wherever you end... .- She says in a gloomy tone, making Dutch understand that the conversation was on the verge of the abyss, ¿couldn't that just be Revy's intention? Because that was precisely their daily life... ¿What was missing here?
.- We aren't special cases... Not like Rocky Boy, with his strange shitty luck. It became easier for me to put aside the mundane, the life, that flower garden .- She explained as she turned her eyes downward .- It was necessary for me, power and money were the combination in this environment, ¿Damn right?
.- You're not wrong, Revy, but it would be good if you got to the point .- Except Dutch, hiding his uncomfortable patience... ¿Why didn't she say anything he didn't know?
.- Easy, easy, hold real tight yours ass, Dutch .- She says framing her smile. Revy takes a box of cigarettes out of her pocket plus a lighter which had a flame waiting to die, luckily, very good luck, the flame fulfills its purpose and it manages to light the cigarette already on the woman's lips. She takes a drag, and blows the gray smoke across the room. Dutch also wanted one and almost thought of asking for it but his body was so relaxed that he could leave it for later .- The fact is, people say ignorance is bliss, but that's only half of it, ¿Do you know why? 'cus it is complemented with arrogance, a lot of it to be honest.
.- Ok but ¿How?
.- Well ¿You know me right?
.- That's what I assume...
.- Hahahaha... Oh you stupid ass fool .- Revy lets out a happy and sinic laugh. The lost captain still did not understand the bitterness in all this. Revy's humor was almost as black as hers soul, if not more .- Yes, Dutch, you know me, you know what I think about money, and you probably don't care 'cus you're just my employer, that's fine. but... You see, I've debated for years whether it's just arrogance or ignorance that's been covering up for me in years.
.- Ah, get it... Before our Rocky boy arrived, you could see it as simple ignorance, ¿correct?
.- Bingo... Till I get my own reality check. Even if the words didn't come from his mouth, I would have encountered that wall full of doubt sooner or later. It was luck, because maybe some other son of a bitch wouldn't have been so kind .- She comments, seeing it from another point of view, she had the luck of the devil, because without any doubt someone could have subdued her with both bullets and words and corroded his little philosophy. It's a blessing that someone like that doesn't exist .- This is when I question that...
.- ¿Whether to believe in fate or not? Revy please... .- Dutch finally hit the target, reluctant but he succeeded, he earns a neutral look from Revy, plus a puff of smoke from her. He really want that fuck up cigarette, but he wouldn't lift. This chair is better than any wife anyone could have .- You don't really know if sooner or later you would have come across that wall, ¿Who knows? Maybe the world would end or maybe you would have ended up dead. You can't never know...
.- I really would have wanted to die happy knowing only that, Dutch... Being slaughtered for my ignorance is my own reward .- She answers, taking another puff and blowing out the smoke .- The problem is that I'm still here, Dutch, I don't want to believe in fate, because if it turns out to be true, everything I have been believing and preaching can go to the trash just like that, done, gone forever...
.- ¿What kind of shit are these, Revy? ¿Dying to prove a point...? ¿Are you that scared of growing up or some shit? .- Dutch counterattacked, frowning slightly. He certainly knew that Revy was smart, but he never expected her to come up with this kind of rant to top it all off. And it's not like he's downplaying it or anything...
.- Please, don't disrespect me, idiot... That's something that crazy people like Chang and Rocky boy would do, not me, despite what I said before.
.- ¿Aren't you messing with me?
.- Nope... I really needed the captain's opinion because of your lack of mincing words. You're probably dying for it to end, ¿right?
.- Mmph
.- It was arrogance, more than anything, a defense mechanism to not feel anything, I'm more useful this way, everyone understands that... .- She finally clarified, Revy could comment on it for herself about her own mental gears and decision making .- However, the fact that fate exists makes me stupidly think that there are some other things in life, even, no matter how mundane they may be... God knows that this nonsense will pass once I'm drinking and at work .- She says, subtly waving her hand, as if it were scaring away an insect. She takes another drag and the cigarette was about to perish... ¿Did she run out so quickly?
.- There is no such thing like fate, Two hands. Fate is the decisions we make to deal with the consequences later, it is always like that... For better or worse, for rich and poor, for the strong and the weak. Maybe if you had asked me this when I was young, my answer would have been different... Hahaha - Dutch finishes with a noticeable relief, the chatter almost over. And a little happy, because Revy let him know about her insecurities in an almost discreet and non-obvious way. Two hands is not the same; It is impossible to be the same over the years, even when we fall into ignorance and arrogance then we believe that we are.
Like a purchase of false happiness and consequences to deal with later...
Revy comments at the end: Amen for that Dutch, amen for that... .- She proceeds to put the cigarette in the trash basket, getting up, approaching and finishing. The woman in arms decides to go out for some fresh air; She goes out and closes the door, leaving the poor captain wishing he had asked her for the damn cigarette, he already had the chair, you can't have it all in this life...
.- Damn it all...
Later, at night...
The Yellow Flag, over the years, capital of the goods, and many destructions, underwent such a massive remodeling that is now considered a tourist center for both the underworld beings and the livings, such as innocent or ignorant tourists who come visiting whether for illegal, recreational or family reasons; It was almost impossible that you had never heard of or mentioned the legendary bar. ¿How? Thanks to a power deal between Chang and Balalaika, with a little help from Rock's silver tongue; they redid the bar to a massive level, including hiring a well-trained guard staff and an area of its own for many more exotic dancers. It looked like one of those hotel bars, only completely open and fortified for the mob... Today it was somewhat lively with those incandescent neon lights, doing more with the nighttime atmosphere. Not to mention the stratospheric profits for mob bosses; good old Bao, without ever having left his position, was not far behind...
You could barely differentiate the living dead from the truly living in a dizzying flow of dancing beings...
.- Tch... ¿Where is the spirit in all this luminescent shit, Bao? .- Spat out a revy, annoyed by this strange environment, the noise bothered her because it was not the typical one she was used to, no fights, no shots, no swearing or gambling... Only screams of people who were either very drugged, dancing or tending to their needs creating disputes at the bar.
Over the years, Bao could also match Revy Two Hands's arrogance, partially only while sober; the money was good, but the bartender still acted like an angry forty man because he still had bills to pay. He was serving some customers while he heard a pitiful and resounding Revy .- Gosh for cry of loud, drink your bottle and go, Revy. This new beauty has a perfect streak of 9 months without altercations, the streak ain't gonna be broken even by your presence... .- The bartender stated bluntly, Bao was wearing a somewhat messy tuxedo that made him fit in with the place.
.- ¿¡So many years of friendship and you throw me out like I was a plague!? Damn, they say money changes people, ¿Huh? ¡You punk! .- Revy returns, somewhere between sober and drunk, she was not irritated because Bao wanted to kick her out, or because the crew had to leave earlier because there was a juicy job tomorrow; the time was 2:30 AM, she was irritated because her bottle was about to expire and she wasn't even 30% drunk as she usually is...
.- I gave you the first drinks for free because I was in a good mood, I expected you to leave and you didn't, now you owe me a bottle, Two hands.
.- Blah blah blah... .- She speaks in a mocking and bored tone, extending his head and back backwards on the back of the chair, his head upside down looking towards in the center of the bar, the dizzying flow of the crowd jumping and dancing, some guards kicking out some angry bastards, the neon lights and some tables with some unreadable people. Her eyes were narrowed in boredom.
Then she turns back to the bottle and drinks the last of it, finishes it and then goes to the bartender who had just returned from other customers .- I don't understand for the good lord... ¿Was there a need for this, Bao? ¿Are you that fucking greedy?
.- Stop shitting on me, seriously, a snake like you can't talk about morals...
.- Maybe I have destroyed the Yellow Flag a few times, ¿But you? You killed his spirit with all this... ¡Techno shit! .- Revy claimed, hitting the bar with both open palms. A vein was about to explode in Bao, he used all his holy patience not to call the security and kick Revy out of here, but of course, that would be playing along with her and letting her start a carnage freely, and worse, get away with an "accident".
.- SIGH... .- That sigh let out all the accumulated frustration .- Revy, I can honestly understand that you don't like it, but you must understand that even a rotten city like this can transform into unexpected things. You're the only one whining about what was once this seedy bar, ¡now it's a high-end luxury seedy bar!
.- Bullshits...
.- ¿Yeah? Poor of you... It bothers you that this neutral point, both for the living and the livings deads, is amplified for the better. Damn, even some stupid tourists think it's some kind of resort, ¿How can you complain so much about a past whim?
.- It matched the entire city, now I can't even distinguish it... .- She says crestfallen, resting her elbows on the bar.
.- Even this rotten city must change at some point of time, Revy. I think it only bothers you that you are not dead to avoid seeing it... But in my opinion, everything is still just as crappy and shady as always, ¿The difference? There are more amenities for everyone, well... For those who at least have some money.
That had to be just another cruel lie, a city like this doesn't change, it only seeks to blend in with the landscape and not draw attention from the outside; it knew that was true, because the rates of deaths, vagrants or missing people remained the same or even higher over the years. At some point, having so many tourists will be none good because someone may become unduly suspicious, that's when you send the scapegoat to do the dirty work for you... ¿Did Revy find remorse because corruption found ways to prosper through the blind eyes or was it just a little whim? She mostly took the second option, she herself was part of this corruption, but the pilars and convictions that supported her weakened over the years...
Whether that was a good thing or a bad thing she didn't know, but it depended on who you asked... Whether a civilian or an employer.
.- I know you are not very religious, but at least be thankful cus' you are on the winning side...
.- Just someone delusional would think that there are winners in this abyss... Bao, ¿We just had a good time, right? .- Revy said, in a resting position, with his head lying on her forearms used as a pillow emulator. She told herself that she would frequent the bar less and spend time at the rip off church, and Eda was like the annoying little sister who wouldn't stop talking shit to you, but preferred that to remembering the vestiges of what the rustic bar was, Bao rolled his eyes.
.- Screw it, can't talk to you if you're in that mode... Besides, you should really go, Revy. Dutch told me that you had an important assignment tomorrow and it would be nice if your butt didn't last so long here...
.- That stupid ass fool... .- The angry woman grumbled.
.- It's 3:30 in the morning and all you been doing is sit here in a vain attempt to remember the past. I'm not kicking you out, but it would be appropriate for you to leave .- The man says subtly. Revy moves out of her previous position and frowns at the man. It's not that he wasn't right, but she resented being reminded of her job duties.
.- If you want I can give you an escort with one of the guards...
.- Nah, I'm more sober than drunk... Besides, I would like to have the excuse to have some action, you know, pull the trigger and free myself from my "ills."
It was obvious that she would say something like that, but Bao thinks that he really got a lucky shot, the bar was much improved, but given the atmosphere, the clientele, the time and the alcohol, it was far from being perfect; there were still people fighting, few yes, but there guards and the fact is that they couldn't be everywhere, especially with so many people in between not wanting to cooperate. If a nearby fight broke out, there was a risk of involving Two hands and she, true to who her is, lighting the flame of carnage even more... Bao could not ask his clients to hand over their weapons or to they did not use for reasons of their own safety, so the only thing left was not to use them if the supposed service was extremely good... And it did not disappoint. Revy gets up from the chair.
.- Tell Dutch to fuck off me, I know how to handle my naps, Bao...
.- Of course, ¿With that temperament?
.- Screw you, screw Dutch and above all; screw your shitty techno bar... Put that bottle on my account, you know I'll pay you, I don't know when but you know I always do it, you punk .- The woman clarified bluntly, walking towards the exit; the bar was on the 1st floor, while the exit was on the ground floor, so I had to force some people to move, since they were either too drugged, or had hearing loss from all this pollution to hear the loud "move out the way" from revy
Bao did not spare more money to some janitor or cleaning staff, he overlooked it and it was simply disgusting greed to have a little more money... One or the other was screwed either way, because he was the one who was leaving to be in charge of cleaning up the remains of what is left over, at least there would be no more corpses like in the previous yellow flap, but there would be a lot of vomiting, stains and maybe condoms; there are rooms for that, but taking into account that the debauchery was at its highest point in the early morning, some of them were clearly not going to put up with bothering the bathroom...
Revy goes down the stairs and passes another crowd again, on the ground floor you could hear the rumblings from the 1st floor because of the bustling people upstairs... It was no joke that the infrastructure was also reinforced in case the floor failed .
Revy walked and found the exit, she passed by and started walking again to his residence...
