Ivan Viggo's Story

Plenty of space in the local starport, and a big hotel casino nearby, this was the prefect place for a man of the cloth to go in search of those who needed their lives uplifted by the grace of NIRO. He was wearing recognizable desert attire and he checked his scepter at the door as was proper of him.

Ivan pulled back his hood as he entered, flashing his almost too perfect smile at some of the patrons he passed as he made his way further inside. He found himself seated next to some young women, one of whom was tinkering with their table's holodisplay. He wasn't sure if that was allowed in this establishment, but he kept his mouth closed.

He ordered a local entree and leaned back in his seat with a glass of water to await his meal, cybernetically enhanced hearing allowing him to listen in on the nearby conversation. The Mayday Brigade? He'd never heard of them, how curious.

Fang smiled, "The name's Hell's Fang. Pyromancer and an expert at dealing with paperwork."

The waiter came with the beer and Fang lifted it from the table, taking a sip and smiling even wider. "Ahh. Now that's a Terra beer all right." She raised the glass to the light. They've been making this stuff since 1947 and do they have it figured out." She half-emptied the glass and put it back down. "Business and weapons hmm? Sounds exciting. I can appreciate those." Her eyes fixated on the now working holopad. She filed the information away.

"Well Car Key, I asked you two questions and fair is fair. What would you like to know of me?"

"A pleasure" Car Key said in reply to the name being given, an interesting name yet in this galaxy who really gave a fuck to begin with anyhow ? Car Key surely did not. She only ran weapons when needed and even made weapons for those that wanted them as well. No questions asked. All in all it was a good life. Her own massive ship. the Neblun-B was perfect for both cargo storage as well as other items.

She smiled when Fang mentioned the drink raising her own in a toast "Welcome to Ariel. The Jewel of the Galaxy!" Ariel was a massive planet and half of it was a city in and of itself, and that cantina, the Dancing Mug, was in fact a very popular establishment. So much so that it made perfect port every time they stopped in. Besides even the spaceport had space docks that high up! Turbolifts and whatnot to get to and from the ground planetside was also good too.

"Depends, you lookin to cause trouble, or is trouble already following you and you looking to defend yourself ?" She could see several men not far away making bets on a Animus Core game session. Watching the holotank display the massive rather amazing setup was actually pretty nice. Apparently Car Key was already thinking in terms of business.

The food came, the Boga Nogus Burger also had a side of Skuzzi Spits, which was like Calamari in a side stand eatery in a big city. But better properly prepped. "Ah thank you" Car Key said to the clearly alien waiter. Not the least bit phased by the fact the alien had no hair, and huge black eyes, and dark blue skin, and two tails poking out the back of the head. The cook however was in fact a Wookiee or some such thing. The waiter soon left to tend to another table.

Fang grinned, her feline-esque teeth showing. "Hey now, those are business questions! I thought those were your own. Nonetheless, I'll answer true. Mayhem is my game. Course that means trouble is always on my tail, but what's life without a bit of sport eh?"

The food came and Hell's Fang ate, particularly enjoying the Spits. After getting a refill on her beer and getting Key a refill on her drink she leaned back again. "So then, you still haven't used your allotted 2 questions."

Mitsusawa, Yamane moves to where she is directed. Which happens to be inside where all the fine liquor, and bad trouble should hopefully be. She was particularly interested in the...small creature that looked have hurried past all the stepping customers. Although she 'walked in', if anyone cared to notice, she was now 'floating' her way towards the bar.

"Give me the strongest, biggest, dirtiest glass of something you find every bit as sour as I feel. If you cant do that, a stout will be fine."

/menu

At the womans request the bar tender, an alien creature with four arms, mixed up a strong stout and set it on the bartop. "Anything to go with that. " the alien asked, the baselisk was a older fellow. An order came up for Skuzzi Spits and it was taken to the stool next to the woman. A cat sat there, almost humanlike actually it was rather comical to see. "Your order" The alien chef said to Attila.

"Thank you, my compliments to the chef!" Attila said, he raised his wine to the woman next to him. "Cheers" he said before sticking a kebab in his mouth and munching down on it

Mitsusawa, Yamane was about to answer the basilisk, but the turned to what looked to be a humanoid cat of sorts. Her eyes look the creature up and down, and she found solace in the fact that this creature was so in the current moment, that he wasn't giving off any waves of energy that triggered her clairvoyant abilities. It was nice change of pace to not look at someone and see glimpses of thier past or future, based on strong emotional leakage of energy.

She turned back to the bartender.

"Basilisk, I'll take a lox sandwich. Bring two." She sad in a tone that if you listened closes shifted between two pitches. At one point it would sound like two voices. But the music might have drowned that out.

"Two Lox comin' up!" The Basalisk replied to the order, holding up one hand with the twofingers raised and two more writing up the order the third pulling up his pants over his asscrack.

The other eater in the bar, the place had a live band playing a good tune, something along the lines of "Monty Python" or some such. Infact if Mitsusawa saw Attilas future or brief past, she'd she starlines, follow3ed by the emptying of a stomach. Which was why Attila was more focused on his meal at that moment than anything else. Attila then asked for a sports listing of teams still in the zone. Animus Core was a huge deal and bets were taken hourly.

Watching on the screen as the maze was built. it was going to be an interesting event to be sure. four different people who had never met doing a round of Wolfpack, well worth betting on. Attila placed a dozen credits on the Preacher, and half that on the Lady Maverick.Of course Lady Mavrick got first kill. but he still had money on the Preacher to get high score.

Mitsusawa, Yamane looks up as she takes a very long sip from her beverage, clearing half of it in one go.

"Well, you seem quite interested in making bets for both parties. Anyone every tell you to not split bets? It's bad for your pockets." Mitsu stated in multitones again. Her voice constantly switching pitches and tones. As if trying to find the right one that attracts the most amount of attention from the young cat humanoid.

She turned to the bartender.

Mitsu placed two dozen credits on The Preacher.

"Well, betting on the outcome of jepardy is well and fun, but this better" Attila said scarfing down another kebab. he made a request for a second or was that third ? round of Skuzzi Spits as he continued to watch the game, Wolfpack went for 25 rounds, and since there were four of them, the guy as Preacher was skilled as he kept the lead rather well.

The Basalisk came back to the eating area from the kitchen, in his arms was a large plate of two good sized Lox sandwiches, and a large masket of mexican style chips and a halkf dozen eggrolls, he also had a refill for Mitsu's stout and Attilas wine

Attila watched the third round begin, the Preacher and Lady Maverick in a dead heat on score keeping. the other two, a Sentiunel and trickster, kept killing each other silly. Attila then set his wine glass on the bar top and held out a pawlike hand to Mitsu in greeting. "Pleasure to meet you, I'm Attila, room mate of Grimmy and occasional pet of Mother Goose." he said introducing himself to Mitsu

Mitsusawa, Yamane consumed the later half of the stout upon seeing the basilisk come from the back. She gladly accepted the new refill with a nod of her head. She also found it curious that basilisk seemed to look, somehow happy? What an odd thing his aura was giving off. He certainly didn't look it. She found his appearance quite unappealing and seemingly joyless. But maybe she was wrong about his initial appearance. Or maybe he was just happy to serve her, as most men tend to be upon hearing her voice shift to thier frequency of appeal.

She stopped thinking about it once she received her food. She started sloppily eating one of the lox sandwiches. Uncaring of her etiquette. She would scarf the thing down between gulps of her stout, in complete contrast to her sultry voice and movements.

Finishing one of the sandwiches, she would finally look over to see the little paw outstretched and an offer of friendship being made. She took his hand introduced herself.

"Call me Mist, short for Mistress, for you aren't yet worthy of my name. Unbothered to make your acquaintance." Mitsu shifted a little after taking the handshake.

She would gesture at the drink.

"Knock a few more of those back and maybe you will be."

By then of course Attila was hammered, two wines and he was down, but then he did something odd. "A pretty name, Mist, I like it." He smacked on the bar, carusing the coffee cup of the patron next to him to freak out and explode. "Bartender!!.... oh excuse me" Attila broushed the ruined coffee mug aside. "Bartender, the wine keg please, Oh, and a funnel"

The tenth round was about to begin and once more the Preacher and The Lady Maverick were still in a dead heat. The Basalisk was indeed happy to own the Dancing Mug, daily bar fights happened in that place, and yet somehow, the Basalisk, a currently as yet named fellow whos last named ended with "dax" was actually a good .... well, calling a Basalisk a man was bad manners. So he was a happy thing.

Tossing aside the fountain after unstopping the keg of wine, Attila said as he held the cork, "First ot let it breathe....." He waited a beat, then two, then three themn pitched the cork over his shoulder "ENOUGH not to drink!" and he just up and tilted the keg into the funny into his maw and guzzled.

It looked like Mitsu had her drinking buddy.

Mitsusawa, Yamane smiled broadly and genuinely for the first time that day. She has been up for three days straight, but only remembers the last 24 hours given the psychic perils she had to experience during the first 48. Not that she at remembers it, but she knows that she was drunk during at least half of it. Why else would it be such a bothersome blur? It was all bad. She knew she was running, the last thing she remembers was being in The Void, now she was here. She knew she should stop, but this is what made her happy.

Other peoples lives of shame and intolerable decisions of faux and denial? That was for the unholy gods! But THIS? This truth? This inhibition? This blackout seeking fun of an activity? THIS IS UNCARING LOVE OF THE MOMENT. She would brace glory without grace.

"Give me one of those, but full of stout. RIGHT NOW!" She shouted.

She joined the new acquaintance on the table, dress skirt lifted, lacy thong with stockings showing. She accepted the keg and knocked that thing back without hesitation. Just a broad smile and concentration etched on her face.

The final round was starting in just a few minutes and Attila had alrady knocked back two kegs of wine, and, somehow in it all, lost his funnel. But did not seem t ocare much on that fact as the twenty fifth round was starting and so far his bets were paying off. Sitting on the bar top his back against Mitsu's own as they both drank endlessly. Attila cheered seeing his prize payout being exactly as he had hoped. "I win!" He slurred before tiliting off the bar and somehow landing, though like a slime, on his feet and bombing towards the stool before getting into a headbutting match with it before climbing back up and promptly faceplanting in Mitus lap before getting his bearings and missing a step landing int he bar sink. "Shay" He slurred to Mitsu. "Wanna go for a drive ? I have jkeys!" He jangled the shiny things in his hand before hiccuping.

With both of them drunk, that was not a good idea

Mitsusawa, Yamane was very fortunate for two things about her body. She didn't get poisoned by most things she ingests, and she was very responsible when drunk. In fact, she somehow was able to pinpoint accurately tap into other's minds as a sort of back up mechanism in order to know what she is doing and getting around. Having went blow for blow with the cat creature, and probably finishing with a sweet shot of liquor, she now had somethings to do.

Through the process of slightly slurred but telepathic coherence as well as quick actions, she paid both bills with 100 credits tip, managed to scream about needing a room, paid for two night advance, and somehow snatched the keys being jiggled at her within whatever a minutes worth of time should have been. Certainly in a short enough time to watch the drunken stupor of her new drunk acquaintance to put a smile on her face once more.

She would grab Attila and levitate upstairs to wherever the room was designated to be.

"No drive when drink."

By that point, Attila had lost the keys, and his collar, and felt naked, but somehow didnt care. "But what about m'bath ?" He asked drunkenly before focusing slightly, they had rooms ? Oh that was good, that was good indeed! "Lead the way!" He then promptly passed out in her arms, his hands holding a bag ful of his winnings of the split bet he'd made.

Mitsusawa, Yamane also had some winning, as she only bet on the winning team, which she would have used to pay the bills of the bar and all the lodging with. Leaving whatever was left as a tip, and carry over in case they would stay longer. She would carry the cat creature all the way up. Whom smelled quite horrific at this point. But she would care not. She would place the man in his bed, and she would sleep next to him, uncaring of anything and everything. Simply wanting to fall into deep slumber next to her drinking buddy.

Attila woke up with a jolt, muttering a weird form of gibberish before realising he didnt have his collar on. Patting around int he dfarkned room for it he soon found it and put it on. "Ah much better. Now where are my keys ?" He continued patting around himself and removed from his belt, a good few thousand credits. Good for gas and tolls along the spacelanes really. He fell off the bed with the needage of food on his mind but somehow found his way to the bathroom. A momnent later and the sounds of someone emptying their guts was heard

Mitsusawa, Yamane felt all the movement and heard the ruckus, but only vaguely. Forcing herself up, she would hear the sound of barfing as opposed to...well, surprise gasping. Which was completely fine, after last night. She could feel a bit of the booze still in her system, but it was a welcoming feeling indeed. Something anchoring her to the present still.

She didn't feel the need to purge any of her system, but she did feel the need to brush her teeth. She joined Attila, seeing him barf his guts out.

"Hello Attila, amazing fun last night huh?" She asked, gathering her toothpaste and brush, that the hotel provided.

"I'm fine" Attila said, he waved to her in greeting, "Im just GLERG!!" He upchuckedagain. And then again. Just letting it all out. after a good moment or two of worshipping the porclian throne Attila did the decent thing and flushed it. Only somehow in doing so he broke the flusher handle clean off the thing. He looked at the thing dumbly a moment before pitching it in the sink

"Oh yes very fun, almost woke up naked" he was a cat the size of a dwarf, how could he be naked in just his fur ? Oh right, he had a nice priple and blue collar on his neck. a very nice one too. "Have you seen my keys ?" He was mercifully not drunk, or hungover. The keys were his, and given to him by Mom Goose. He then watched her a moment as she did her teeth. Remembering hje needed a bath, but there was a woman using the sink so doing so would be rude

Mitsusawa, Yamane would ponder the keys for a moment. In that amount of time, she would finish brushing her teeth. After which she would leave the faucet running so as to begin washing her face. She would see the toilet handle clear enough now, being so close to it. But she cared not. In order for one to keep the beauty she had, soap and water for washing in the morning was mandatory.

She finished washing her face, dried her face, dried her hands, and dried the sink area. She turned towards Attila after folding the towel neatly.

"Yes, your keys are safe and sound with me here." She indicated towards her breast. Clearly having stored them in her cleavage.

"Ah good" He said sim0ply in reply for the brief moment he was focused on the fact she was done with the sink. "Pardon me a moment." He grabbed a towel off the rack and easily climbed onto the counter and fired up the sink after plugging it. Grabbing the nearby shampoo {and conditioner} he started to suds up. Then he saw Mitsu watching him intently. "Oh pardon me" he sdaid politly as he gave himself a good bath. Soon he was done and the towel he'd snagged was wet with the water that once soaked him. "I'd use the hairdrier but last time I ended up a fluffed up marshmellow for a day and a half" he said.

Then he focused on what Mitsu said, His keys were safe and sound with her.... where ? Oh dear. "Ahuh... Ok uhm... you mind if I ah, ask for those back ?" At that moment he was stone sober, so asking for them back was a good thing

Mitsusawa, Yamane looks at the little creature seductively. Moving from hip to hip, she knew she could play with him a little; and she certainly have the interest to do so. But she could now very clearly see the creatures future. She could see the tangled web of emotions coming off him. Oh, how lovely it would be to pluck on of those little strings of fate and start puling him into a world of pleasure and escape. Maybe even greater riches, more than the measly couple of thousands earned last night.

Oh, how wonderful an aid to her sorrows this new friend would be.

A companion, a drinking companion...She pondered on this as she walked outta the bathroom without a word. Still smirking seductively, still sauntering smoothly, levitating with each step. She knew what she desired. She knew...but she could not have this creature. No. She would not destroy his life for her vanity. Not again. |

"This was an escape." She solemnly relented aloud. No longer smirking. But she wouldn't let him see that. No. She would hid it, she would pour out an extra bit of sexy appeal in her aura, leaking and oozing the appeal she brought into the bar last night.

She settled down on the bed, crossed her legs, and laid back. Clearly lost in thought and stuck about her decisions.

A beat passed...then two...then a dozen. Surely the creature would watch in confusion.

"Ah!"

Mitsu finally arose. She would get up from the bed, and snap her fingers. The keys would appear to float in the air, and her clothes would disappear simultaneously. She would stand in only a sheer bra and lacy panties. Both water proof, she would float the keys over to the little creature, and begin to shower. Knowing that it would help her with her indecision, mistakes of recent past, and give her privacy to let her emotions really show on her face.

She would start the shower and simply close the barely opaque glass of the elegant shower space. Everything seemingly automatic. The perfect temperature water would begin cascading out.

Attila didnt seem to notice that Mitsu was nearly naked, if he did, he didnt say anything on the subject but merely thanked her in a kind tone for the keys being safely out of his reach while he was drunk. He couldnt wait to tell Grimmy he got hammered. They had a bet for as long as he could remember, so long that he actually forgot they had a bet going. But now he could tell grimmy he got drunk, and with a beautiful lady to boot!

he ambled to the phone then as his thoughts wandered to food. picking up the receiver he said "Hello, Room service ? Can you send up a menu ?" A few moments later and the menu would arrive. But until then Attila had time to kill so he turned onthe holographic TV on the wall and started watching the news, which was the weather report for Ariel. He spoke up as the report droned on "Lady in the shower, that I still dont know the name of, I requested a menu from roomservice, is there anything you'd like me to order for breakfast ?"