[Rustbucket] Hooligan Hoe Down I The Meeting

[Arkash]

34th of Glade, 4623

The quiet darkness of the night lay unsettled at the roots of the various shacks and shanties of Rustbucket. Sand was settled, wind was low, and all the settlement's crawlers were about their ramshackle refuges, and tucked away in gatherings.

Ruptured was the silence as the rumble of a chariot's engine came carried on toothy wheels, ripped through in rivulets by the turn of the motor. Two silhouettes cloaked in rustic garbs of brass and dark cloth rode along that short stretch to the settlement before the chariot came to a complete halt, rumbled while it stalled, then ceased altogether.

A sturdy leather boot knocked the kickstand into the sandstone and let its weight rest between their legs. "This..." Began the stern, feminine voice of the driver. "....Has to be the worst idea you've ever had."

Raspy and cold came Arkash's laugh as he unsaddled the machine. "You'd be surprised," came his response, a brief quip while he dusted himself off with those terrible claws.

The driver sighed and shook her head as she lowered the goggles from her eyes and let the brass rim of the lenses fall still at her clavicle. "I'm sure I would," she spoke disapprovingly. "You'll be safe?"

"Always am," Arkash answered with a curl to his reptilian lips.

Isabell rolled her eyes at that. Arkash bared his serrated teeth in a grin, then let his lips fall flat as he turned away.

Dark, form-fitting leather garbs became loose and voluminous as Arkash changed shape mid-stride and assumed the look of his humanoid form; a short human male of tan skin, thick curly hair, and brown eyes.

His nostrils flared as he drank the scents of dormant rustbucket on his way through the sand-laden streets. Sure enough, he found the nose-burning congregation of sweat, blood, piss, and hookah. "Perfect..." he whispered under his breath, and then with a swing of his body, he adjusted his trajectory and made a b-line for the venue.

The source of the smells soon came into view; a modest building of one level, fashioned from solid stone. Above the chiseled arch of the entrance was a line of daravinic scribble that Arkash passed without regard.

Through the arch was a small landing of smooth cobbled stone that led to stairs on the left, into an open lounge that obscured itself in a mist of white smoke through the dim light of a hearth.

Various silks of irregular quality lined the walls and hung from the ceiling. All about the lounge were fabric-woven rests adorned with intricate woven designs and lavish pillows. Alabaster white walls caged the room with columns of ivory and wood to support the ceiling.

The Rathor brought a balled fist to his lips and coughed forcefully as the fumes in the air tickled his throat.

Various patrons lay draped over the settees and pillows with their eyes fluttering and their hearts beating slowly. Arkash watched as a particularly rugged badland raider drew a deep breath through a pipe of questionable design, and grinned as a particularly hard cough ripped through their lungs.

Across from the lounge were a bar of solid stone, where a number of stools stood and a few perched patrons. Bottles of various drinks lined the shelves behind the tender; stout, bloated Druskai woman of crimson hair.

His discerning eyes briefly traced over each of the patrons as he descended the stairs, and made his way deeper into the den.

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[Sola]

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Luna had never intended to end up in such a situation. She had been traveling through the desert, hoping to make it back to a major city but the group of people she travelled with got lost. With no other choice, they had started walking, hoping to stumble upon some kind of shelter before the night fell. After hours of trudging through the sand, they finally spotted a cluster of buildings on the horizon. As they drew closer, they realized it was a small town, with a few shops and inns scattered around a central square.

Finding shelter was great. The only problem was, Luna didn’t have enough money to get to where she needed to go. As she walked the town what caught her eye the most was the brothel, modest structure but the sounds coming from within were telling. Luna had never been to a brothel in the badlands before, but she knew enough to recognize one when she saw it. The thought of selling her body for money when she was supposed to be on vacation made her stomach churn, but she was desperate. She had no other way of earning the coin she needed to get back home.

So, with a heavy heart, Luna made her way to the brothel and presented herself to the owner, a plump woman with a kindly face. Luna explained her situation, and was offered her a job as a courtesan until she could earn enough money to buy a trip back home.

And so, Luna found herself sitting in one of the brothel's many chambers, waiting for customers to come and seek her services. The room was small and sparsely decorated, with a bed covered in silken sheets, a few candles flickering on a nearby table, and a small chest filled with various perfumes and cosmetics.

Luna had taken the time to bathe and better her appearance while she waited. Her long, dark hair cascaded down her back in soft waves. Her eyes were the color of sapphires. Her skin was smooth and unblemished, and she wore a gown that didn’t quite fit, as she was borrowing it from another worker. She wore no jewelry except for a single gold bracelet around her wrist, which glinted in the candlelight.

For hours, Luna sat there, waiting for a customer to notice her. She tried to occupy herself by reading a book she had found in the chamber, but her mind kept wandering, filled with thoughts of home and the people she had left behind. She missed them terribly, and the more she thought about them, the more tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

Eventually, she saw someone walking down the hall. He had curly hair, tan skin, and was on the shorter side. Luna waved to him and if he approached she’d say "Hello, anything I can do for you?"

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[Arkash]

Through the discarded lung fumes, Arkash saw clearly the presence of scantily-clad men and women. Some of whom waved their hips suggestively with every pace of their deliberate saunter toward their targets; the incapacitated and delirious lumps of meat that were otherwise capable fighters and gunmen.

The Rath couldn't help but roll his eyes as they shined in the mist, only to fix them on a lithe male, dressed sparsely in silks that barely concealed his person. He ran his fingers along Arkash's jawline on his way by. As their eyes met, he tilted the holster of his black sword, the melted pommel glinting a deep crimson in the low light of the lounge. The elf's eyes briefly met the weapon, widened a little, then snapped as quickly from Arkash's gaze as his hand. The whore carried on behind him, and Arkash let his scabbard fall free as he looked to the remaining courtesans.

"Weak..." He breathed a disappointed exhale, then directed his attention to the bar where the patrons had just about embalmed themselves with liquor. With nothing to be desired there, his eye wandered a little further... To fall upon the one who didn't quite fit there, and not just in the gown she wore.

The dark of his irises lingered on the nautical blue of hers while she looked at him. Then, she beckoned him closer. Intrigued, Arkash crossed the short distance of the room and stopped just a foot short of the woman, where he looked down at her.

His gaze faltered as his eyes lidded, and his chest inflated with a breath he drew from his nose. A smile crossed his lips before he brought the edge of his index finger to her chin and gently tilted her head up at him when his eyes opened again. "...I think so," Arkash expressed with a sort of wicked glee in his cold eyes when he breathed out.

"Come," he directed as he opened the door of the private room, and moved his hand to her shoulder to guide her in. "I'll tell you all about it."

Once they were inside, his shining eyes danced in the low candlelight of the room to the few decorations that cozied up the four walls. The glint was like the gaze of an animal from the darkened fringes of a campfire. He stayed in silence for a moment or two while he barred the door with the lean of his body, then finally unhooked his scabbard and set the terrible blade to rest against the wall.

"You're not from here," Arkash began. "I don't think you belong here, either."

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[Sola]

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Most people she met since stepping into the badlands hadn’t exactly been what she’d consider normal. So, she wasn’t all that surprised when Arkash walked right up to her and inspected her. Perhaps he needed to get a better look at her in the dim lighting. Or perhaps he was looking for a particular person. Luna found him hard to read. Her heart raced as the dark-skinned man guided her into a private room. She had expected him to be just like any other customer, but there was something about him that made her nervous. Something that she hadn’t picked up on until he was close to her.

As soon as they were alone, the man blocked her only exit and prompted her to explain her being here. It was an intimidating move, whether he intended it to be or not. Luna eyed his weapon as he set it aside. It was enormous in comparison to the stiletto that Luna was hiding under her dress.

Luna hesitated, unsure of how to answer. She had never been good at lying, and she knew that any attempt to conceal her true intentions would likely be seen through by this man. So, with a deep breath, she decided to tell the truth. She supposed there was no harm in doing so.

"I got lost in the desert," she said, her voice confident and cool. "I was traveling with a group of merchants, but we ended up here instead of back in Carine. I didn’t bring enough money with me to buy a trip so I decided to work here for a few days.”

Luna paused, cocked her head to the side and said, “unless you mean I don’t belong here, in a brothel. I’m inclined to agree. Although, the life of a courtesan is nothing new to me. Now, what is it I can do for you? You don’t really seem like you want the usual. I don’t mean to inflate my own ego, but men who get me alone aren’t typically the type to remain clothed for this long.” She stared into his eyes, not with a welcoming look this time, but with a glare that she intended to be intimidating. The man’s words would determine whether Luna felt it necessary to latch a tether onto him and look into his mural.

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[Arkash]

Smiling: an expression that often signaled to the flock that the bearer was pleased. It was used in times of jubilance, celebration, comradery and relief. But the smile Arkash wore once he'd separated one of the flock wasn't born of any of those things. It was cold, callous, cruel. Though soft at the edges, the malicious hunger that lined his eyes was tangible enough to run anyone's blood cold.

He rested there with both palms flat on the door while he broke the pattern of the usual proceedings and dragged the woman from whatever comfortable façade she'd built.

His eye briefly lingered on the epicenter of her chest, exactly where her heart was beating while he quietly listened to her explanation.

The soft smile he wore receded a touch or two while she spoke, and he nodded quietly to relay his understanding.

When he parted his lips to speak, however, she countered his brief interrogation with a question of her own, and a glare he'd clearly not anticipated.

"Oh my..." He began, apparently impressed. "You're a brave one. That's good, it's necessary for what comes next."

With a deep exhale, he reached into his pocket to retrieve a bundle of notes that were tied comfortably with a piece of string. He held it for a moment with a contemplative look in his gaze before he placed it atop the chest beside his blade. "I think you're too good for a few days here... Is what I meant to say." His smile returned briefly with an assuring nod before his lips parted again to speak.

"I need someone strong, brave, and desirable to help me with the... Er..." He paused, shining eyes looked to the side in thought. "...Retrieval ...Of my belongings."

"Something I bought was pillaged from me during transit. I've tracked it to a clan of raiders north of here..." He paused, his smile now a frustrated frown. "I need them subdued... So that I can retrieve it without it being damaged in the chaos."

"It's quite rare... You see... It's preservation is imperative."

He exhaled deeply while he looked her up and down. "...I can tell you're strong. You've demonstrated your bravery, and your beauty is so to intimidate those brutes to a degree that you haven't been touched this evening." Arkash breathed deeply through his nose, then exhaled.

"For that, you can name your price." He gave a moment's pause to let the offer sink in. "Farthings, transportation, even power... What is it that you want, Milady?"

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[Sola]

Luna's mind raced with possibilities as she considered the man's offer. On the one hand, she desperately needed the money to make her way back home to Amoren. On the other hand, the thought of spending time alone with a group of raiders terrified her. But as she looked into Arkash's eyes, she could see that he was serious about the offer, and that he believed she was capable of doing what he asked. His request was so far from what she was used to that she chuckled, thinking he was joking.

Then she calmed down and said, "Oh you're serious. I could probably entertain a large group, sure. I admittedly don’t have any experience in that area but… raiders sound the type that aren’t that picky. And surely you can't expect me to be able to show up at their camp then walk out afterwards. I don't know much about raiders but I can only imagine their first instinct would be to tie me up and enslave me. Please tell me there's more to your plan. As for payment, getting me back to Amoren or at least a major city is a no brainer. Oh, and a share of whatever else you can nick from them while you're fetching your belongings."

Luna leaned back and massaged her temples while thinking hard. Just thinking about what she would do if things went south was giving her stress. How many raiders were even in a group? If it was just a handful of nonmagical chumps then she didn’t she’d have any difficulty defending herself. Then again, if they were so benign then this man wouldn’t be coming to a brothel seeking unconventional help. No, she knew that she wouldn’t be able to defend herself from all of them and escape was probably impossible. So she looked to Arkash expectantly for more details.

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[Arkash]

The escalation in the beat of her heart was hard to ignore when Arkash made his wants known. She was scared, but who wouldn't be by such a prospect? Arkash crossed his arms over his chest while he eyes the woman and nodded a little. "You want assurance," Arkash observed.

He breathed deeply through his nose and exhaled just as deeply. "Alright, I can at least do that," he agreed with a sort of whimsical nod.

"I'll be going with you, posing as a traveling Briomancer with a lovely assistant," he spoke with a gesture of his hand to the woman. "I'll try and offer my services for payment... Assuming they don't outright attack us, they'll likely take me prisoner for ransom to some lord I'll make up in Greater Daravin. You? Well..." He looked her up and down. "...I'm sure you're of more use to them alive."

He breathed another deep exhale from his nose while he eyed her. That wasn't much assurance, even he knew that. "If you're worried things will go south while we're separated in the compound, there is... Something we can arrange for a sort of safety net."

Arkash paced between the lady and the door while he considered, eyes dragged along the ground in contemplation for a moment before he looked up at the woman once more. "A... Mutation of mine has given me an excellent sense of smell. If you lend me a drop of your blood, I will commit the scent to memory and abort the mission should I smell it again while we're there. You'd just have to prick your finger and I'll know exactly where you are."

Lingering was his gaze while he measured her expression. Did she believe him? To what depth?

"...But hopefully everything goes according to plan. If I don't smell your blood within a couple of hours, I'll carry on with the plan and retrieve you; you won't be trapped there, I swear." His pacing stopped where he landed within a foot of the girl, his hands placed at ease behind his back. "But... Everything would be much easier if you could distract them, tire them out a little."

"And in return... I'll take you to Boghadar via Chariot, and you can keep everything else they've pillaged; I'm only after what's mine." His nose curled a little with a twinge of bitterness in his voice at the last word.

Sure enough, the self-declared mage composed himself, regained the smile he'd worn when he first cornered her, and bowed his head before her. "Do we have a deal?"

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[Sola]

Luna nodded in agreement and said, "Yes, some assurance would be nice." She listened to the man's explanation of his plan to pretend to be a briomancer, but she didn't press the issue of what exactly a briomancer was. Instead, she focused on the fact that if he was going to accompany her, he must be competent enough to defend himself if they got into trouble. She also realized that there was nothing stopping him from abandoning her after they inevitably got separated.

Luna couldn't help but feel a twinge of distrust towards the man, and she quickly devised a plan to get revenge if he betrayed her. She decided that in that scenario, she could always tell the bandits all about him so that they could find him, or even steal from him again if they had the opportunity. Luna made a mental note to help the bandits if it came down to it, though she had no way of knowing what her circumstances would look like.

After thinking it over, Luna agreed to go along with the man's plan. “Fine, let’s work together. But you should know better than to betray me. Also, taking me to Boghadar would be fine.” She sighed and wondered why he wouldn't choose a closer city. Nevertheless, she wasn't going to complain. Luna drew her stiletto from within her dress and pricked her finger, holding it out to the man for him to do whatever he needed to do.

She then wiped the blade off on the wall and sheathed it before saying, “let me get changed and I’ll meet you out front. All my shit’s in the other room.”

She was uneasy about the whole thing, but this was a high risk high reward scenario. Assuming her path would be no longer blocked, Luna would change into her shirt and pants. They were more suited for travel than seduction, but she supposed that wouldn’t matter all that much. Luna would also grab her longbow and quiver of arrows before heading back to the front of the brothel to meet the man. She’d also get on his chariot if prompted so they could begin their journey.

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[Arkash]

The grin that curled his lips receded at the mention of betrayal, the furrow of his brow softened. "Betrayal? Goodness, no. Absolutely not." He cleared his throat into a balled fist and shook his head. "I'm a man of my word, worry not..." He spoke with a sort of whimsical chime to his voice.

However, there was a momentary tension through his form when she produced the stiletto; like a switch had been flipped. His pupils shrank to pinpricks with laser focus on the weapon until her intent was made known.

The prick of her finger came with remarkable ease. Arkash rose a brow, apparently impressed. A reach of his hand dragged the tip of his finger along the wound and swabbed the budding bead of blood onto his skin. With the break of surface tension, the rich red became smeared through the crevices of his fingerprints and stained his dark skin with the flaky coagulant.

Heavily distracted, Arkash's eyes were locked on the fluid as he held it up to his eyes. They fluttered shut as he leaned forward, and drank the warm, coppery scent with his nose in a deep draw of breath. Once he'd filled his lungs to the brim, he popped his finger in his mouth and sucked it dry before producing it again.

A heady sigh escaped his lips, followed by an appreciative nod at her suggestion, as she was already getting ready. "Don't delay," he chimed with a smile, then collected his sword and bundle of farthing notes before he made his way out, scabbard in hand.

Through the smoky lounge and into the open night air, Arkash lifted his face mask and lowered his goggles for protection from the sand. With his back pressed to the wall of the brothel and his wickedly curved blade on open display, he waited for the lady.

When at last she emerged from the venue with her belongings, Arkash wordlessly motioned her to follow with a dip of his head and made his way to the chariot and its guardian.

A woman of one blue eye, long dark hair, and pale complexion leaned against the machine when they arrived. "And the man a' the hour returns!" she spoke quite sarcastically with a reach of her hand in the 'guised Rath's direction "take the whores for a test run or what?" She quizzed as he drew near with a scoff.

"You know I didn't," Arkash spoke sternly toward the woman with a serious glint in his eye. Another pass to the woman in his company broke his lips to introductions. "This is Izzy, she's our driver. My name is Arkash, and we'll call you by whatever name you like."

Once he'd gotten the woman aboard the chariot, he pocketed a hand. "How are we looking on fuel?"

"Dry," Izzy answered. "Needle's on the E."

"So we're taking a pit stop?"

Izzy shook her head. "Nah, 'thought we'd walk."

"Fuck off," Arkash shook his head.

The woman cackled as they both climbed onto the chariot with the woman, and with a few hard revs of the engine, they were tearing up the badlands in spectacular fashion with a trail of smog to mark their journey.

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[Sola]

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Luna let out a tired yawn as she contemplated her role in the upcoming plan. She had been feeling uneasy ever since she was briefed on the details, and now as the time drew closer, her nerves were getting the best of her. She couldn't help but wonder if her presence in the plan was merely for show, to act as a damsel in distress while others did the real work. As she looked down at her trusty bow, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at the thought of leaving it behind. Luna was not a skilled warrior, and her weapon was certainly not an extension of herself. But the plan seemed to require her to abandon the offensive approach and take on a different kind of role. She couldn't help but wonder if her bow would just become a liability in such a situation.

Luna was also worried about the fate of her belongings. She knew that the plan required her to leave the brothel for a while, and she didn't want to leave her things behind in such an unfamiliar and potentially risky location. At the same time, she didn't want to carry them with her and risk having them damaged or lost in the chaos of the plan. Despite her concerns, Luna knew that she had to find a way to push past her doubts and make the plan work. She decided to think about how best to proceed. Perhaps they had a solution that would allow her to keep her belongings safe and still fulfill her role in the plan.

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