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The Big Oof! Volume 2 Chapter 63: An Old Face
🕑 Added 2023-10-10 07:05:24 +0000 UTCWith a drawn-out sigh of fatigue, Azeline slumped her shoulders when she heard another cackle of laughter echoing from behind her. Glancing over her shoulder, her eyes rested on both Bennett and Elijah, pointing at another oddity as if they’ve never seen anything like it before while ambling down the moon-illuminated streets. It was beyond her comprehension how these two… things possessed seemingly boundless energy so late in the night.
“They’re truly a menace to society…” Azeline murmured, sluggishly pushing her hair out of her face.
Fortunately for her though, sanctuary was just around the corner. She just had to endure one more block of this nonsense and she’d be cradled snuggly in a bath with a mug of ale and a plate of meat. The thought of such luxury put a little more energy in her step as she quickened her pace.
The warm and glow of the tavern spilled out onto the cobblestone streets just ahead of Azeline as she rounded the corner. She could practically taste the roasted meats and the hoppy ale as the tantalizing aromas flooded the street. Replacing the insidious snickering behind her, a cacophony of cheering and laughter emanated from the inn and served as a backdrop to her cravings. It was an inviting energy, a comforting hum of life, within the wood and stone structure that called out to her tired bones.
Azeline felt an involuntary smile tug at the corners of her lips as she navigated through the crowd of despondent freelancers clustered outside the tavern. The mercenaries seemed exceptionally agitated tonight, lamenting their ill-fortune, and peering into their empty purses. But she ignored them as she pushed through the crowd. This was the respite she had been yearning for all day, and nothing was going to spoil it for her. Not the disheveled freelancers shooting her disgruntled looks, not the idiots trailing behind her, and most certainly not the psychopathic Vanir who was, by all likelihood, instigating the chaos inside.
The clamor inside the tavern had grown several decibels higher than usual, a cacophonous blend of cheers, jeers, and the raucous bellows. Azeline could almost visualize the Vanir at the heart of the ruckus, baiting unsuspecting patrons into another round of high-stakes drinking. But tonight, she was determined not to let the rambunctious Fae or anything else dampen her spirits.
“Yana!” Azeline's voice cut through the noisy tavern like a knife through butter as she threw open the door. “I’m not covering your bill this time!”
Just as Azeline’s eyes adjusted to the light, another round of cacophonous cheers erupted as Yana flew in a quick circle and threw a pair of dice onto a table. A collective gasp swept the room as everyone leaned in closer, their eyes riveted on the rolling etched cubes. The sound of mugs clinking, chairs scraping, and the deafening sounds of cheering filled the air as the crowd waited for the dice to settle. And then, as quickly as the suspense had built, it broke. A victorious roar burst forth from the onlookers as Yana let out a triumphant whoop, her arms spread wide in celebration.
"I WON! I WON! I FINALLY WON!" Yana's voice pierced through the celebratory clamor as her wings fluttered in ecstatic bursts.
With a victorious twinkle in her eyes, the small fairy planted herself before the dice before jabbing a tiny finger toward the other end of the table, "I won! So you better pay up!!" Yana said as the crowd parted, giving way to a captivating woman that radiated charm and weaved a mesmerizing enchantment over the entire room.
The woman in question sat sideways in her wooden chair with one shapely leg thrown over the other, accentuating her form fitting leather pants that clung to her like a second skin. And as the woman turned her head, her lush, cream-colored hair flowed in soft waves and were adorned with strips of a rich chocolate hue that gave her an exotic allure. A pair of feline ears, matching the pattern of her hair, graced the top of her head, twitching slightly as they honed in on the doorway.
Azeline however, couldn’t process what was happening as she stood there staring into the cat girl's shimmering blue eyes that held a smug sparkle. “W-W…. What…?” She stuttered as she instinctively took a step back.
"Hello, my dearest Azeline," the cat girl purred, her voice a sultry hum in the silence. As she spoke, her legs crossed the other way, the heel of her boot gently tapping the hilt of the dagger strapped there as she toyed idly with a pair of dice in her other hand, her azure eyes sparkling with mischief. "I’m pleased to see you're... healthy."
Her words were punctuated with a soft, amused giggle, a sound that sent shivers through the otherwise quiet tavern. An air of tension threaded through the room, all eyes glued to the feline temptress.
Meanwhile, Azeline’s gaze nervously scanned the room. The tavern patrons seemed frozen themselves as her eyes darted from one face to another. Eventually, her eyes finally landed on Ulina, tucked away in a shadowy corner of the room.
Her Northern Aethari Kin was hunched, her emerald eyes locked onto the floor as if it held some secret salvation. Guilt and shame were painted across her features in vivid hues, her posture echoing a profound sense of regret.
"H-Hello... Indi..." Azeline looked to the floor, her voice barely a whisper under Indi's predatory gaze . She felt like a deer caught in the glare of a lantern, momentarily frozen, her heart pounding in her chest.
Her mind whirred with a thousand thoughts, a tumultuous whirlpool that made it difficult for her to think straight. But one notion stood clear amidst the chaos - she was trapped in a den of wolves as her gaze continued to scan the room. In the corners she recognized more and more faces and each one of them were ones she was not happy to see.
Her eyes lingered on Indi. The cat girl's hand moved in a slow, seductive trail along her own thigh, her fingers grazing the hilt of her dagger with an intimacy that sent a chill up Azeline's spine. The feline ears atop her head flickered slightly, almost in tune with the provocative smile that danced on her lips.
“You know…” Indi drawled out, her voice laced with a playful edge. With a casual flick of her wrist, she sent a pair of dice tumbling onto the table. “I was very disappointed to learn you’ve been in Aldenshore for a few days without even a simple ‘how do you do!’”
The air inside the tavern tightened as Indi's words echoed around the room. Even the rough, hard-edged mercenaries seemed to shrink back, their jovial laughter and brash demeanor had been completely silenced by the woman.
"And you even made such...interesting friends!" Indi added, her voice carrying a gentle tone. A giggle, almost sweet if it weren't so chilling, escaped the cat girl’s lips as she deftly unsheathed the dagger strapped to her boot.
Every one of her movements exuded gracefulness as she used the pointed edge of the blade to push a small sack of coins across the table. It stopped right in front of the still glaring Fairy who, despite the strained atmosphere, appeared to be absolutely thrilled by her winnings.
Azeline watched as the fairy's wings fluttered excitedly, a stark contrast to the unsettling calm that Indi exuded. She felt a lump forming in her throat as she saw Yana pick up the bag of coins and slowly float towards her.
"Y-Yana! This isn't the time for-!" Azeline's voice wavered in a futile attempt to chastise the gleeful fairy, but Yana, engrossed in her victory, merely fluttered past her, oblivious to the rising tension in the room.
"Thanks, Yana. Get in my pocket for a minute." A familiar voice cut through the awkward silence, and Azeline turned to find Elijah, his imposing figure still shrouded in the large cloak he wore to their earlier job.
A small mischievous giggle as she floated through the folds of his coat. “I like her!”
Bennett was equally enigmatic in his own cloak, standing just a step behind Elijah. Both of the men had a look on their faces saying they were ready to ruthlessly spring into action at a moment's notice.
A wave of relief washed over Azeline as she remembered that she wasn’t alone and was, in fact, in the company of the deadliest people she ever met. "I assure you, Indi," Azeline began, her voice taking on a firmer, more confident tone, "It wasn’t my intention to disrespect you in any way." She carefully chose her words, wary of the concealed barbs in their seemingly benign exchange.
Indi's mischievous grin only widened as her enchanting eyes danced with unrestrained mirth. The room's stifling silence was punctuated only by the rhythmic tapping of Indi's sharp nail against her chair and the swishing of her long, bushy tail. The two women kept their gazes locked, silently challenging the other in an unspoken duel of resolve.
And then, at seemingly random, Indi broke into hearty laughter. Her entire body seemed to convulse with mirth as she twisted in her chair to fully face Azeline. Her legs uncrossed and crossed again, the dagger on her boot gleaming ominously in the dim tavern light.
“Ahahaha! Oh Azeline! Always the brave and willful one!” Indi managed to choke out between fits of laughter, but said laughter started to dwindle. In its stead, a more icy and dangerous tone echoed throughout the room. "I was quite troubled when I heard reports that you’ve failed your last job and died.” She fiddled with the tip of her dagger, its sharp edge glinting threateningly under the dim tavern light. “Your failure left quite a black mark on my reputation, Azeline," she confessed, her voice brimming with a potent mixture of annoyance and disappointment.
"So imagine my surprise to learn you’re back in the city, working no less." she continued, her unblinking gaze locked onto Azeline. The once lively room had grown a little louder with the shuffle of feet as patrons decided it was best they didn’t stick around to see what would happen next. “I can't even begin to fathom what Einar must be telling his father now.”
Azeline swallowed, trying to clear her dry throat."Indi, I..." she began, her voice wavering. "It wasn't intentional to deceive you…" she managed to force out.
There was a momentary silence as the room held its breath, waiting for Indi's reaction. The cat girl's playful smirk never left her lips as she studied Azeline with a sharp gaze. She flicked the sharp edge of her dagger with her finger, letting out a soft ‘ting’.
"If only apologies were so convenient." Indi purred, her tone filled with mockery. Her tail gave a harsh whip, the tip cutting through the heavy silence like a blade. "After all, it's not just me you've disappointed. It's Einar... and his father, Kjadnar."
"Those routes, Azeline," Indi continued, leaning forward in her chair, the smirk never leaving her face. "You were supposed to clear them. But instead, the Inquisition has torched the entire town. And let's not forget about that infuriating dwarf, Mevel." She let out a soft growl, her annoyance barely concealed. "Flapping his tongue to all that would hear, laying all the blame on me."
Her voice lowered, her eyes narrowed. "And do you know what the worst part is? Now Einar, and his father, question my credibility. So tell me, Azeline..." She leaned back into her chair, crossing her legs as her tail snaked around her thigh. "...how do you plan on fixing this mess?"
Azeline felt the pressure of a firm hand on her shoulder, a silent sign of solidarity that strengthened her resolve. Glancing over her shoulder to find Elijah standing there, his posture firm and confident with Bennett just a step behind him.
"We'll take any work you have," Azeline declared, her voice resolute as she turned back to face Indi.
Indi arched a brow, her smirk softening into a smile that was as icy as it was amused while her tail thrashed even more. "Oh really? Why should I entrust you with any more work?" she inquired, her tone laced with barely concealed skepticism.
"Because, I didn’t fail. You know I’m the best” Azeline replied without missing a beat, her voice echoing with irritation as she shot a pointed look around the room, daring anyone to contradict her. "Mevel’s men backstabbed us in the middle of the clearing job."
The droning tapping instantly stopped as Indi’s playful smile was replaced by a brief flicker of unimaginable anger. Her tail shot straight up and bristled out as her nails sank deep into the chair's arm. “I should say you’re a lying whore and then kill you out right.” The cat girl snarled as she violently stabbed her blade into the table “But Mevel is enough of a cowardly knave that I'm certain that he would indeed orchestrate such a ploy," Indi hissed, her voice cold as ice. The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees as her seething glare landed back on Azeline. She took a moment, a growl rumbling deep in her chest as she yanked her dagger free from the table.
"I am not a forgiving woman, Azeline, but you've done right by me before," she said, her voice carrying a cold edge of authority that silenced the murmurs that had begun to arise. "So, I will give you a chance to make things right." She finished before letting her gaze drift over to Bennett and Elijah.
Her eyes narrowed and her feline ears continuously flickered, scanning the men for the subtlest of sounds. The brief silence that followed was soon broken by the crisp sound of her heels tapping against the wooden floor, signaling her ascent from her chair.
Even as Indi navigated through the tavern, her petite and narrow frame moved with a grace and fluidity that was nothing short of captivating. The subtle curviness of her hips and legs were perfectly accentuated by her form-fitting leather pants, the material hugging her like a second skin. Each step she took was an enchanting dance of feline grace and feminine allure that commanded the entire room's attention.
Her loose, flowing white poet-shirt added an air of nonchalance to her allure, billowing slightly with each stride. Its soft fabric contrasted beautifully with the hardness of her leather pants and boots, and it did nothing to hide the impressive toned physique it sought to cover. The intricate lacing at the shirt's V-neck revealed just a hint of her modest cleavage, a teasing preview of her enchanting beauty.
Despite mentally preparing himself for confrontation, Elijah found himself irresistibly drawn to the figure before him. His heart paced unevenly within his chest as his gaze traced the contours of the woman's body, starting with her captivating markings. He couldn’t help but stare at her Lynx Point like markings that were elegantly woven into her hair. It simply amplified the allure of the woman's exotic charm as her ear’s focused on him alone.
But his attention soon wandered, taking in the flow of her body until it fell upon her high-heeled boots. Their fashionable yet functional design gave her an unusual sense of authority and the rhythmic click of the heels commanded the respect of everyone in the room with every step.
“intriguing…” Indi hummed, her eyes inspecting Elijah’s cloaked figure with a hint of intrigue. "You're different," she noted, her tone as casual as her posture. "You don't look like the usual rabble Azeline would frequent."
Her hand, with a mind of its own, slowly reached out to pierce the veil of his cloak, seeking the secrets it concealed. But before her fingers could brush the fabric, her hand was arrested mid-air by the firm grip of Elijah, stopping her intrusion abruptly.
Indi's teasing and coquettish smile promptly returned to her lips as her feline-like eyes darted up to meet Elijah's obscured face. However, his hood casted a deep shadow that hid his features from her curious gaze, further stoking the embers of her interest in this enigmatic man.
With a tail thrashing about in curiosity, Indi locked eyes with Elijah, her other hand gently tracing down his arm. "How very intriguing," she murmured softly, her eyes alight with amusement. "Worried that I might enjoy what I uncover?" The cat girl said in a playful manner.
"Indi," Azeline's voice suddenly cut through the tense silence. "They’re professionals, not your playthings."
Pausing, Indi swiveled to face Azeline, her head tilted in contemplation. "Very well," she responded, her tone laced with a challenging undertone. "I'll take your word for it. But remember, deeds are more potent than words."
With a snap of her fingers, the armed men stationed at the corners of the tavern rose to their feet, falling into line behind her as she sauntered out of the establishment. Her departure lifted the tension in the room, her tail playfully twitching behind her. "I’ll talk to you soon, my dear," she looked over her shoulder, giving a cheeky wink.
As Azeline breathed a sigh of relief, she pressed a hand against her forehead, the coolness of her skin providing some kind of solace.
“Azeline… I’m sorry…” Ulina said with a dejected face, her face still lowered deeply. “I… I don’t know how she found out… She just-” She tried to explain herself, but Azeline cut her off by raising a hand.
"Ulina," Azeline said, her tone gentle. She lowered her hand and looked towards her friend, her eyes displaying a weariness. "We both knew from the get go it was only a matter of time until Indi found out I was here."
The room fell into a quiet hush as Azeline’s words hung in the air. The only sound was the occasional crackling from the hearth, a gentle lullaby in contrast to the tension from just a moment ago.
Azeline's arms wrapped around Ulina, pulling her into a comforting embrace. "It's not your fault," she assured her, with a soothing tone. "I’m honestly, I’m surprised she didn’t kill us the moment we walked in."
Ulina, resting her head on Azeline's shoulder, released a shaky breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Her voice was small, almost a whisper when she spoke. "She was… she was furious," she admitted, a shudder running through her frame. "She just came in out of nowhere, I had no time to react and she knew everything about that job Barni had you do…”
"Indi has her ways of finding things out," Azeline said, her voice just above a whisper, the comforting rhythm of her heartbeat a silent reassurance against Ulina's ear. "Her claws are in every pot and I should've been more cautious. This...this isn't on you, Ulina."
Elijah and Bennett looked at each other briefly before turning towards the two women. “I’m glad everything worked out and all, but…” Elijah called out. “What the fuck was that??”
Azeline managed a tired, wry smile, pulling back from Ulina to face Elijah and Bennett. "That, my friends, is Indi in all her glory," she said, her voice carrying a hint of bitter amusement. "The most cunning and dangerous Tasker you're ever likely to meet in this city."
"She runs half the underground in this damned city too," Ulina added, her tone grim. "So crossing her is pretty high on the list of bad ideas. Especially since she’s Einar’s lover.”
Bennett’s brows furrowed as he pinched the bridge of his knows. “That’s cool and all, but who the hell is Einar and Kjad-whatever-the-fuck.”
A tired sigh escaped Azeline as she gently released Ulina, her gaze steady on Bennett. "Kjadnar," she began, crossing her arms over her chest, "is a lord that controls most of the smuggling routes from the Northern Kingdoms to the Holy Dominion and everything in between," her voice held a subtle note of warning, "and Einar is one of his sons. He’s been gifted with this shithole’s entire region as an area of responsibility."
Azeline's explanation was met with a heavy silence. The gravity of the situation settled over them, a looming cloud that shadowed their faces.
“So he’s a Mafia boss?” Elijah said, crossing his arms.
For a brief moment, silence reigned as Ulina and Azeline gave each other a curious look. “Mafia boss?” Azeline questioned, putting her hands on her hips. “What in the heavens is a Mafia?”
Taken aback by Azeline's question, Elijah blinked blankly as he tried to think of how to elaborate. "You know," he began, scrambling for words, "like a mob boss, a leader of organized crime?"
Ulina's brow furrowed in confusion, her head tilting slightly to one side. "A mob boss? Like the leader of a riotous crowd or some group of bandits?"
Elijah just stood there, staring at the two women, completely baffled by their lack of understanding. He had never really considered he would actually have to explain the concept of organized crime and what it would entail.
“Well Uh… Not exactly…” He finally said, scratching his chin. “It’s more structured, you know? Like there’s an organized system almost as if it was a business, but illegal. They control and facilitate various illegal activities like smuggling, extortion, racketeering, uhhh…” Elijah looked at Bennett for help.
“Money laundering, loan sharking, counterfeiting, data running, blackmail, assassinations,” Bennett added, ticking off the illegal activities on his fingers. His tone was nonchalant, as if he were discussing the weather rather than the underbelly of society.
The two women stared at the two men as if they were growing extra limbs out of their heads in real time. The idea of ‘organized crime’ was a completely alien concept to them and they couldn’t understand why anyone would center a business around crime itself. Crime was usually just committed by desperate individuals, gangs or greedy lords. Not vast complex networks that operated like a shadow government.
“I don’t know what any of that means.” Ulina responded, running a hand through her hair.
Seeing the bewildered expressions on Azeline and Ulina's faces, Elijah and Bennett shared a glance before they let out a shared sigh.
“It’s like a cult, except instead of worshiping the old ones of some foreign god, they just do crime stuff for money you dumbos.” Yana finally chirped in, sticking out of Elijah’s coat. “I’ve been asleep for the past few thousand years and even I know that!”
The room exploded with a flurry of questions as Bennett stared at the fiasco with a tired and agitated look. “Alright, alright alright!” He said, waving his hands around. “I’m not dealing with shit right now, good night!.”
With that, Bennett scurried away, leaving Elijah to field the rest of the questions alone.
Comments
Nope
*big scary woman enters* Elijah: “Heh. Alphonse Capone.” Entire Room: *cranes neck* Elijah: “Ah shit, here we go again.”
