01-27-2017, 06:49 AM
Luci sits by a window in a ramshackled gang hideout in Teir-5 with the Westside Deathblades. She is sharing a hand-rolled cigarette with Princess Hellstab, discussing gang politics and recent news, trying not to think about Batgirl.
"Yeah, a prime in a rooster mask," says Hellstab. "Wiped out Yagnar and his boys just last night. The Knife Ears are looking for him now," the Princess adds. The eight year old sighs, exhaling smoke through her nostrils while Luci braids her hair. The princess's eyes are glued to the street outside window.
"They'll find him," Luci says confidently. "Hopefully before the orcs do!" she teases, eliciting a giggle from the Princess.
"So," says the Princess conversationally. "What are you going to tell Weasel?"
Luci shrugs. "That Dick-Face is dead and Scab got cold feet. She'll be fine when she sees the chems."
They are silent for a moment. "I don't think Moss will like this," says the Princess. Again, silence. "I know what you're doing," Hellstab continues.
There is a knock on the door.
***
Yukki does not have to wait this time; there is no clicking locks and furniture being pushed around. The doors are swung wide open and several young children usher him inside quickly, grabbing the unconscious form of De'iali and shutting the door behind them. Yukki assesses the surreal scene in front of him. A small gang of children in vaguely Japanese street wear with anime weapons surround De'iali, giving room to a young boy with a plastic stethoscope. The boy puts the toy stethoscope to De'iali's chest.
"Hmm," he says as the collected Deathblades hold their breath. Luci catches Yukki's eye from across the room and grins."She is...going to be fine!" he announces. The children all exhale and start hugging one another. A pair of boys carry De'iali off, Yukki hopes to her parents.
"What about Kerg?" a young boy asks Yukki. He has a red hand print tattooed on his face. Luci also cocks her head to the side, interested.
Yukki shrugs. "The Reaper took him," he says dispassionately.
The tallest boy, a ten-year-old with twin katanas on his hip, walks over to Yukki, sizing him up. The collected gangsters quiet.
The boy stares at Yukki silently for some time. "You saved our friend. You killed our enemies," the boy says. He reaches up to clasp Yukki on his shoulder. "We owe you a debt beyond money. Know that you can always come to the Westside to collect."
The other children nod solemnly.
Yukki doesn't trust himself to speak.
"Ahem," comes a disdainful voice from across the room.
Luci appears at Yukki's shoulder. "I believe her highness Princess Hellstab has made us tea, we should not be rude."
***
Luci smiles pleasantly at Yukki from across a tiny pink plastic table. They sit awkwardly on the child-sized chairs, sipping fake tea from toy teacups. Princess Hellstab is clearly in her element.
"More tea, Shadow-Kill?" she asks for the fifth time, hefting a teapot.
"Thank you, your highness," replies Shadow-Kill, the tall boy that Yukki had come to learn was the leader of the Westside Deathblades, and the Princess's older brother. The boy leans his cup in for Princess Hellstab to pour more fake tea. She tops off Yukki without asking. The other three at the table then stare at Yukki for a moment.
"Oh uh, thank you, your highness," he says as he sips the fake tea. Princess Hellstab smiles.
Luci pulls out two large wads of cash, each pulsing with the rainbow shimmer of Om. She slides them across the table to Yukki, who tucks them away, not breaking eye contact with her.
"I'm tired," Luci announces, rising from the toy seat and stretching. She walks across the table and kisses him softly on the cheek. "You're welcome to stay," she tells Yukki, somewhat cooly he thought. "There's couches, you might find a bed."
Yukki sips his fake tea and watches Luci phase through a wall into her room, momentarilly leaving behind a glowing rainbow outline visible only to his enhanced senses.
"Be careful," Shadow-Kill tells him with crafted disinterest, following Yukki's gaze.
"Shut up," snaps the Princess. Shadow-Kill shrugs.
"I'm just saying, she took a bounty and turned it into a Want Ad," Shadow-Kill says, with a pointed look at Yukki. "You should just, you know, be careful around chicks like that."
"I think I can handle myself," Yukki says, starting to get defensive.
"Hey," says Luci, phasing through the wall. She has removed the jeans she normally wears and is leaning casually against the wall, tugging her hoodie as far down as she can. She catches Yukki's eye. "Are you coming?" she asks.
"Yeah, a prime in a rooster mask," says Hellstab. "Wiped out Yagnar and his boys just last night. The Knife Ears are looking for him now," the Princess adds. The eight year old sighs, exhaling smoke through her nostrils while Luci braids her hair. The princess's eyes are glued to the street outside window.
"They'll find him," Luci says confidently. "Hopefully before the orcs do!" she teases, eliciting a giggle from the Princess.
"So," says the Princess conversationally. "What are you going to tell Weasel?"
Luci shrugs. "That Dick-Face is dead and Scab got cold feet. She'll be fine when she sees the chems."
They are silent for a moment. "I don't think Moss will like this," says the Princess. Again, silence. "I know what you're doing," Hellstab continues.
There is a knock on the door.
***
Yukki does not have to wait this time; there is no clicking locks and furniture being pushed around. The doors are swung wide open and several young children usher him inside quickly, grabbing the unconscious form of De'iali and shutting the door behind them. Yukki assesses the surreal scene in front of him. A small gang of children in vaguely Japanese street wear with anime weapons surround De'iali, giving room to a young boy with a plastic stethoscope. The boy puts the toy stethoscope to De'iali's chest.
"Hmm," he says as the collected Deathblades hold their breath. Luci catches Yukki's eye from across the room and grins."She is...going to be fine!" he announces. The children all exhale and start hugging one another. A pair of boys carry De'iali off, Yukki hopes to her parents.
"What about Kerg?" a young boy asks Yukki. He has a red hand print tattooed on his face. Luci also cocks her head to the side, interested.
Yukki shrugs. "The Reaper took him," he says dispassionately.
The tallest boy, a ten-year-old with twin katanas on his hip, walks over to Yukki, sizing him up. The collected gangsters quiet.
The boy stares at Yukki silently for some time. "You saved our friend. You killed our enemies," the boy says. He reaches up to clasp Yukki on his shoulder. "We owe you a debt beyond money. Know that you can always come to the Westside to collect."
The other children nod solemnly.
Yukki doesn't trust himself to speak.
"Ahem," comes a disdainful voice from across the room.
Luci appears at Yukki's shoulder. "I believe her highness Princess Hellstab has made us tea, we should not be rude."
***
Luci smiles pleasantly at Yukki from across a tiny pink plastic table. They sit awkwardly on the child-sized chairs, sipping fake tea from toy teacups. Princess Hellstab is clearly in her element.
"More tea, Shadow-Kill?" she asks for the fifth time, hefting a teapot.
"Thank you, your highness," replies Shadow-Kill, the tall boy that Yukki had come to learn was the leader of the Westside Deathblades, and the Princess's older brother. The boy leans his cup in for Princess Hellstab to pour more fake tea. She tops off Yukki without asking. The other three at the table then stare at Yukki for a moment.
"Oh uh, thank you, your highness," he says as he sips the fake tea. Princess Hellstab smiles.
Luci pulls out two large wads of cash, each pulsing with the rainbow shimmer of Om. She slides them across the table to Yukki, who tucks them away, not breaking eye contact with her.
"I'm tired," Luci announces, rising from the toy seat and stretching. She walks across the table and kisses him softly on the cheek. "You're welcome to stay," she tells Yukki, somewhat cooly he thought. "There's couches, you might find a bed."
Yukki sips his fake tea and watches Luci phase through a wall into her room, momentarilly leaving behind a glowing rainbow outline visible only to his enhanced senses.
"Be careful," Shadow-Kill tells him with crafted disinterest, following Yukki's gaze.
"Shut up," snaps the Princess. Shadow-Kill shrugs.
"I'm just saying, she took a bounty and turned it into a Want Ad," Shadow-Kill says, with a pointed look at Yukki. "You should just, you know, be careful around chicks like that."
"I think I can handle myself," Yukki says, starting to get defensive.
"Hey," says Luci, phasing through the wall. She has removed the jeans she normally wears and is leaning casually against the wall, tugging her hoodie as far down as she can. She catches Yukki's eye. "Are you coming?" she asks.
![[Image: V4Dvvfy.gif]](https://i.imgur.com/V4Dvvfy.gif)