Mov stood on the side of the busy road, looking up at the sun. He had one hand in his pocket and the other held a fat cigar. He took a long drag and scratched his neck. It was days like these that a smoke break was so relaxing. The sun shined on his helmet with a yellowish glow, causing him to squint his eyes through the visor. Amidst another drag, the chilly wind blew against him, causing some ember and smoke to drift to the side of him. It almost comically hit a child standing with his mother in the face. The kid looked up at him and glared. Mov returned the scowl with a cartoonish smile, his mouth wide with the cigar between his teeth. Looking away he stretched his arms out with a big yawn.
He was bored today. Nothing interesting had happened with any sales that had occurred that morning, so he was waiting until the night, when the slums really came alive. What he would do? He didn't know yet. Mov would most likely get a drink, buy a toby, and make a mess. Till then, he will probably just stand there and smoke till he's out.
“And stay out!” a voice yelled from a nearby building. In an instant out came Zef, pushed out of the door of a small grocery by a large man with greasy black hair. The ragged man tumbled onto the ground falling face first on the weathered dirt path. “Hmph!” the grocer grunted before slamming his door.
“Asshole,” Zef said as he picked himself up off the street. He felt around in his pockets, pulling out a roasted elfadunk trunk on a stick. Still lukewarm from the store's grill and with just a little bit of dust on it. He brushed it off on his coat and took a nice big bite out of it before storing the leftovers back in his pocket. In the same motion he retrieved a cigarette and brought it to his lips.
He felt his jacket up and down. Patting each pocket in search of his lighter to no avail. Did he drop it in the shop? Frustrated he looked around, spotting Mov smoking nearby.
“Yo robot, you got fire?” Zef said as he approached him, putting his hand out expectantly.Mov Atomos
Mov looked to the side as Zef was thrown out the store by some rugged guy with black hair. He chuckled when he saw him take a bite out of the elfadunk and then stuff it back in his pocket. He turned back around and looked at the Sun again. "Yo robot, you got fire?" Mov turned back around to eye Zef. He was holding his hand out towards him. "Sorry, this is a no smoking zone." Mov said, taking a long drag of his cigar. "Besides, I don't feel comfortable giving a lighter to a homeless man, you might hurt somebody." Mov turned back around and flicked away the cigar, which was now nothing but a butt. He patted around his body for another cigar, but felt nothing but his gun, wallet, and lighter. He turned back around at Zef. "Hey, you got a cig? If you give me one, I may let you use my shower. You look like you would appreciate it." Zef Naaiers
“Sorry, no smoking zone,” Zef parroted back grinding his teeth. He slipped his cigarette back into his pack and started to walk away. He then suddenly turned back around. “You’ve been runnin’ ‘round the Wall Market, havn’t ya space cadet?”
He had heard rumors about someone with a weird helmet selling good stuff in the neighborhood. He wondered if he could find out if he was serious competition for his own business. Mov Atomos
Mov smiled when Zef spit his joke back at him, he was beginning to like this guy. “You’ve been runnin’ ‘round the Wall Market, havn’t ya space cadet?” He was aware of his figure being spread around, that's what he wanted. Mov yawned before he answered. "No, I've been busy in space. You must be thinking of someone else. And even if, theoretically, that was me, I don't sell to homeless folk. But if you know someone that owns a real house and wants to buy from me, just give a shout from your cardboard home. I'll hear" Zef Naaiers
"Why waste gil on that bullshit?" Zef asked. "Abandoned buildings all over the place. The slums are my palace," he said raising his hands up and out wide like he were displaying a grungy kingdom. "Don't need no %#@$in' house, gil is for thrills."
Hypers. They were the only thing he cared about. Booze here and there. He wasn't big on places like the Honeybee Inn, because his mom worked their when he was a kid. The rest of his cash was squirreled away for a rainy day, or to help him ascend to the top dog of the slums.
"Y'know what, i'll give you a cig for a light. We can moonwalk over towards the bar if you want," he said lifting his knees in slow motion while walking in place. Mov Atomos
Mov smiled as Zef talked to him. He liked the guys humor, it reminded him of himself, and he loved himself. "Y'know what, i'll give you a cig for a light. We can moonwalk over towards the bar if you want." Mov shrugged and handed Zef the lighter. "I could use a drink I suppose. But just make sure you sit a couple seats away from me. I don't want people thinking I'm helping the homeless, might ruin my image." Mov reached his hand out for a cig from Zef. "And this better be a actual cigarette, and not just some piece rolled up newspaper that you stole from someones lawn." Zef Naaiers
Zef laughed and lit his own smoke. Most people wanted to fight once $$ talking started, but he was enjoying getting roasted a little too much. It had been awhile.
"You kidding? Only the best for my lungs," he said. He pulled his pack out, showing that it was an authentic pack of Malboro Classic. Some people didn't like the weird creature printed on the emblem with crazy eye stocks, but the flavor couldn't be beat in Zef's opinion. It was one of the harsher death sticks on the market. He pulled one out and handed the stranger back his lighter and a smoke as he started walking towards the bar.
"I thought that fish bowl would protect you from all the scary germs," he said as he started walking toward the bar. That first drag was always the most satisfying, he blew it without regards to an elderly man walking by, who coughed a bit in passing. "Yea we aren't going on a date pal, no need to sit across from me."Mov Atomos
Last Edit: May 2, 2020 21:44:38 GMT by Zef Naaiers
Malbro? He had never smoked one of them before, he usually stuck to cigars. He lit it and took in a puff. He wasn't gonna lie, it was some strong $&#$. Mov followed Zef into the bar, grinning when the man blew smoke into a passing eldery mans face. "I thought that fish bowl would protect you from all the scary germs," Mov would've said something back, but he was enjoying the cigarette. He couldn't even remember the last time he had a cig that he liked, that's why he stuck to cigars. "Yea we aren't going on a date pal, no need to sit across from me." Mov puffed out the smoke from the Malbro and fake pouted. "Awww, I can't sit across from you? But I wanna stare into those beautiful shades of yours." He sat across from Zef anyway, but mainly because he disliked talking to someone and they weren't face to face. "We can talk about our..."business relations", in a sec. But before that, what do ya' wanna to drink? I'll go up to the bar and order."Zef Naaiers
Zef took a long drag and gave him a strange look when he complimented his shades. After a moment he laughed and waved his hand. This guy was just a joker. He took a seat and kicked one of his loafers up on the back of an adjacent chair. Huh? He was being offered a drink? Well sure.
"Vodka with a hero drink to chase it with," Zef called back to him.
Business. It seemed like maybe they did know who he was after all. Maybe they could work something out to avoid fighting over turf, maybe they sold totally different things. It was a discussion they were going to have. Mov Atomos
Mov walked to the counter with a couple long steps. He heard Zef call from behind him, but wasn't really listening. Looking at the bartender, he put money on the bar. "Scotch on the rocks for me, and for the homeless guy that looks like a private eye over there, he'll get a water." The bartender made the drinks and Mov grabbed them, walking back over to where Zef was sitting. He put the drinks on the table and sat down, taking a sip of his drink. "Anyway, you wanted to talk to me about my sales outside right? I can see why." He took another sip. "I can find a position for somewhere, we're always hiring. But you'll have to work without pay for at least a week, to see if your any good. There's no health care or many days off, and oh yeah, you have to call me boss for now."Zef Naaiers
Zef looked down at the water and frowned without taking a sip from it. He took a long drag of his smoke until the ash met the filter, and then flicked the butt into it. He then blew an enormous puff of smoke towards the man. "Hey barkeep bring me a real drink!" he yelled. "Not the grandpa $$ space ace is having though, ey?"
He then turned his gaze back to Mov Atomos. "A week no pay to be your delivery boy hm?" he asked. "What kind of junk will I be pushing? Moon rocks? Or is it something people actually want to buy?"
"Hey barkeep bring me a real drink! Not the grandpa $&#$ space ace is having though, ey?"
He was back again, Zef, trying to get another drink out of some random passerby. It was a common occurrence, a few times a week for Leonhardt at least. Judging by the smell of fresh cigarette smoke, he was guessing he must have caught ‘space ace’ in a smoke break. An opportunist at all hours.
Leonhardt already knew the answer, the inflection used on Zef’s full name was akid to a parent scolding a child. He was fairly sure that this drink was going to come out of his pay, but it would keep the peace and that was enough for him. He grabbed the cup of filtered water off the counter, placing it to the side for himself later, before grabbing a worn metal shaker and filled it with cracked ice. Tequila from Costa Del Sol, cinnamon schnapps from Mideel, banora white schnapps from Banora, red pepper hot sauce to wake up, and a fresh egg. Cap the shaker and mix. The contents rattled around as Leonhardt mixed the concoction together, eventually fading away from sloshing as the foam built up from the egg, the sign that it was time to serve. He placed the shaker down and removed the cap, allowing the bit of liquid stuck to the lid to fall back and join the bulk of the drink. It only took a few moments before he placed the cap down and repacked with with a strainer. Gently, a plate yellow liquid was poured into an old fashion glass, allowing for a small layer of foam to sit at the top. No need for a garnish.
A napkin was placed in front on Zef, then the glass on top before he turned his back to clean the equipment used.
“If not, I’m sure we can come to an arrangement.” Mov Atomos
"What are we selling?" Mov chuckled. "Everything man. We sell weapons, drugs, we'll even kill someone for the right price. In fact, we'll get you anything for the right price." Mov took another drag of his cigarette. "And I don't drink for the strength, I drink for the taste. People who drink for the strength are trying to drown something out." Mov took another sip. "What are you trying to drown... Mr.Naaiers?" He chuckled to himself. Zef Naaiers
Last Edit: May 12, 2020 16:09:21 GMT by Mov Atomos
Zef snatched the cocktail from the table and guzzled it down. Gone as quickly as it had come, Naaires looked up at Leonhardt with a moustache made of cream. He looked down and patted at his pockets as if he were searching for something.
“Ah damn, I forgot my wallet,” Zef told him. “Don’t worry, i’m good for it. I’ll pay you back!”
He then turned his gaze back to the TV head, making comments about his drinking habits. He blinked and seemed lost in thought for a moment. “I’m havin’ reception problems with my TV. Got to get my thrills somewhere. I might have found a replacement though,” he said, reaching to tap Mov’s helmet twice on the side.
“Leonhardt here knows i’ve already got the goods, I think you might be a bit too small time, maybe you should take your business to Kalm. I heat it's... a lot calmer there.”
In that moment he undid one of his sleeves to show a tattoo off a faded Cactuar tattoo. He left Cactus Jack's gang years ago, but the Manji held weight down here. Mov Atomos
Last Edit: May 17, 2020 2:34:38 GMT by Zef Naaiers