Author Topic: This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things [NIIIIIX] (Read 3554 times)

Tally · « **on:** December 16, 2012, 06:07:08 pm »

Valentino hummed to himself as he wiped down some glasses. The upper-floor bar was closing and he'd been hoping to leave early, but that was looking less and less likely. Some half dozen or so drunks still lingered, having some sort of argument that was getting louder and angrier with every second. Any minute now he worried they'd—

A glass shattered, a chair overturned. The argument became a fight that spilled over into the center of the room as all six of them got into it.

Val pulled out the big double-barreled crowdpleaser he kept beneath the bar. The impressively loud clack of the pump got all their attention on him.

"Take it to the street. I don't care what you do, so long as you don't do it here." Val may have not looked like much with his glasses and bartending clothes, but the big-ass shotgun helped the image, and most of the drunks began filing out. A couple of them, though, glared at him like they wanted to cause trouble. Like maybe they were too hammered to realize what a poor decision that would be.

Nix · « **Reply #1 on:** December 16, 2012, 10:15:13 pm »

So maybe Gen was done working for the night, maybe he was letting the new guy do all the work, and maybe he was slacking off in the back room with some pretty thing that had stayed for a private drink, but he could still hear the fight start and that broke up any plans he had for the evening. He ushered his pretty new friend out of the back room (hey, he wasn't leaving someone he didn't know back there unattended) and stood in front of her once they were out in the bar where the fight started.

A wide grin broke out on his face when he saw Valentino wielding the gun and taking charge like that, a part of him had been beginning to doubt the kid had it in him! Even from behind (or maybe especially from behind) it was a sight to see.

A few stupid lingering drunks seemed they might want to start shit despite how serious his employee was with that big shotgun, instinctively Gen wanted to help Val out but watching him handle shit was nice... and the view was nicer still. Gen managed to forget there was a woman behind him, clinging to him even!

Tally · « **Reply #2 on:** December 16, 2012, 10:27:10 pm »

Two men faced Val down, but as a door opened and closed behind him, their eyes flicked that way and lingered. Someone had come out of the back. The boss maybe?

The added presence was enough to tilt the odds in his favor and the last two troublemakers stalked out, but not without a parting shot. The last guy grabbed a salt shaker off the table and whipped it at Val's head before darting out the door.

The throw went wide. With the gun still leveled at the door with one hand, Val snapped the shaker out of the air with the other. He set it on the bar before turning around.

"Oh hey, boss. Thought it might be you. Miss." He nodded to the lady and tucked the gun back away behind the bar. "I was just about to lock up."

Nix · « **Reply #3 on:** December 16, 2012, 10:51:47 pm »

Gen folded his muscular arms across his chest and just watched as Val handled shit like a boss (even though he was distinctly not the boss), that wide, perhaps a bit proud, grin still on his face. "Nice catch."

Heck, he had been so focused on Valentino taking care of business he forgot his pretty new companion till the other made mention of her. Yeah.... about that. Gen turned back to her and tucked a lock of her long mauve hair behind her ear. "Sorry beautiful... do you think we could rain check on that private drink? I gotta handle stuff here for a bit."

Lame excuse, but he just wasn't feeling her anymore tonight... not now that Valentino had commanded his attention, however unknowingly. Besides there really was business to be done.

The woman pouted a bit, insisted that Gen throw in dinner next time too, and then finally said ok. She said good night to them both and then took her leave, Gen rushing after to walk her to the door. He whispered something that made her blush a bit, glare at him, then smile. He chuckled a bit then kissed her hand. "Be safe, alright?" He said as she finally left.

After pulling the door closed he finally turned back to Valentino. Did he always look this sexy? Of course Gen wouldn't have hired him if he wasn't attractive but still...

Gen rubbed his hands on his dark gray wife beater and khaki cargo pants as he headed back to the bar. "Well, I guess I'll help you clean up tonight. You got somewhere to be after this?"

Tally · « **Reply #4 on:** December 16, 2012, 11:01:51 pm »

"Thanks!" While Gen walked the lady out, Val sighed and waded out into the overturned tables and chairs and began righting them. He had it all nearly sorted out by the time the boss got back to him.

"Not unless you've got other work for me." Gen sometimes tossed odd jobs his way. Jobs that made use of Val's more physically-inclined skill set, which was to say mercenary work. He liked bartending, but he was a doer. He needed to be making something happen, driving something forward. He never was the type who could stand back and watch the world move around him. These jobs Gen passed him kept him content.

Nix · « **Reply #5 on:** December 16, 2012, 11:31:05 pm »

While Gen liked to think he was an alright guy, he knew there were some things he did that were below most people's moral compass, shit even he felt bad about at times... but Valentino, Valentino was an upright guy and Gen respected that- liked it even. "I got some work, yeah."

In fact he had crazy important work right now but had hesitated a bit about entrusting it to Val. "You like the Cancer don't you?" Gen asked nonchalantly as he wiped down the bar.

Tally · « **Reply #6 on:** December 17, 2012, 12:30:13 am »

Val got the lobby squared away and locked the door. This was always a magical moment, that instant when you know you don't have to deal with customers anymore, when it's just you and a coworker and you can get your apron off and relax while you finish up.

"I love the Cancer! I mean, like, I could be anywhere y'know?" He joined Gen at the bar and leaned against it. "I like working here, too. What's the job?"

Nix · « **Reply #7 on:** January 13, 2013, 01:20:05 am »

"...it's a delivery. I need someone to take a small ship I recently acquired to a... contact, via transporter ship of course. The small ship in question is a pirate ship and it needs to remain sealed. The person delivering it to me can only bring here. It'd be much damn easier if they'd deliver it for me, said they could have a crew member do it all the way but I need to keep this ship with people I trust. It's important shit this one."

He was grumbling a bit. He was stressing over this, big time. Stress was not something he was used to either. He usually had enough of a grip on things or was just able to go with the flow... then again this affected the entire space station so, of course it was stressful. That didn't mean it was hopeless. He'd do whatever it took to prevent it from happening in the first place, but he still had to take these measures to figure out the best course of action if shit did hit the proverbial fan.

Tally · « **Reply #8 on:** January 15, 2013, 08:01:55 pm »

Val nodded along, cleaning forgotten as his mind shifted gears. Pirate ship delivery, via large transport. Such a job would take him out of here for a couple of weeks at least, more if pirates or surveillance ships disrupted their route.

"So you need someone to go along and make sure it gets where it needs to be. I got it." Val leaned closer, frowning. "What's up, boss? This thing actually has you worried, doesn't it?"

Nix · « **Reply #9 on:** January 15, 2013, 08:23:25 pm »

Gen frowned a bit as he looked at Val. He really wasn't sure he wanted to give this job to him. "The job has a few 'knots' in it. One being the transport ship and its captain and crew... I am bein' forced to trust an important piece a cargo to untrustworthy pirates. I think my contact has 'em on enough of a leash that they won't fuck him over and will deliver it safe and sound but..."

Maygen let out an deep sigh and scratched at the scruff on his chin in contemplation. "I'm worried about sendin' you into that lion pit. That and... the actual contents of the ship we're transporting are more then enough to worry me."

Tally · « **Reply #10 on:** January 16, 2013, 07:18:43 pm »

"Oh."

Well that soured his good mood. Gen knew how he felt about pirates. Gen also knew how he felt about doing unpleasant things for the greater good. Could be why he'd come to Val in the first place.

He tilted his head. "You've never worried over me like this before because of a job. I mean, not more than anyone would given a thorny situation. Playing nice with a few pirates is hardly the most perilous thing I've ever done."

He smiled, just to see if he could get Gen to stop frowning and smile back at him. "Unless you're worried I'm the one who's going to start trouble. Don't think I could resist the urge to mouth off to the pirates?"

Nix · « **Reply #11 on:** January 16, 2013, 07:27:43 pm »

Ok, damnit. Gen did grin a bit despite his mood. Damn Val. "...I ain't worried about you playing nice... and I know you aren't helpless or anything."

The man sighed a bit and shook his head. "I'm worried about the captain. He's a sociopathic, sadistic, rapist who likes pretty men and puttin' ya on board a ship with him does not put me at ease. If it weren't such an important issue I wouldn't have even considered it."

Tally · « **Reply #12 on:** January 16, 2013, 07:36:59 pm »

Aha! He got Gen to smile! He knew he could.

Then, just as quickly, his own smile dropped. "That...wasn't a thing I expected you to say."

Before all that talk of sadism and rape could complicate his thinking, he shook his head and got back on track. "Anyway, it's just another job. They all have their uh...difficulties. When do you need me to be ready?"

Nix · « **Reply #13 on:** January 17, 2013, 06:56:51 pm »

"The ship delivering the pirate vessel to us should be arriving in about three days and the ship that will be transporting you should be here in two..." He could see that Valentino was a bit, well taken back by his statement. Gen looked at that pretty face and couldn't help but worry.

Gen lowered his voice. "...listen the captain's issues and your morality aside this is important Val. The ship you'll be escorting is sealed and let me stress again, must remain sealed for damn good reason. There is a biological agent on it that wiped out it's entire crew. It was done as an act of 'War on Piracy' except the perpetrators were merely testing it out on that ship and have targeted the Cancer."

Tally · « **Reply #14 on:** January 18, 2013, 03:19:54 am »

"Not a lot of time." Not a complaint, just a recognition of the facts. Three days wasn't ideal considering the secrecy and delicacy of the operation.

An operation which was proving more dire by the second. A biological agent? This would be a first for Val. He was more used to enemies he could kill with a gun. it sent a shiver down his spine. It also solidified his resolve. Not even Gen's hesitation would put him off this job now. He couldn't trust stakes this high to anyone but himself.

He whistled. "You weren't kidding when you said it was important. So...how much of this information are we sharing with our delivery boys?"

Nix · « **Reply #15 on:** January 19, 2013, 12:24:19 am »

"The captain has been informed that the ship must remain sealed and that unsealin' it could prove fatal, an' that is the extent on supplied knowledge on the subject. There isn't a whole lotta time, and the I have to discuss some stuff with Chapel soon." He scratched the back of his neck. He did not want to have to tell all of this to Chapel, he really hated being the barer of bad news... unless it was good news for him, but this definitely wasn't.

He reached out to pat Val on the back and then rest his hand on the other male's shoulder for a moment. "I'm glad yer working for me kid."

Tally · « **Reply #16 on:** January 19, 2013, 12:59:14 am »

Val straightened. "I'll be ready."

Gen was good to him. He wouldn't say they saw eye to eye on everything—Val tended more toward optimism and positivity—but Gen understood him and even indulged his idealism when he could. In a place called The Piss Hole he'd found more of a home than he'd ever had. If lollygagging with a bunch of pirates was what it took to protect Cancer, then he would do it happily.

He returned Gen's gesture with a warm smile. "Why don't I make you something?"

Nix · « **Reply #17 on:** January 19, 2013, 01:31:00 am »

Gen had been kind of lonely before he hired Val. He had other bartenders over the years, other mercenaries he hired, but most of them didn't work out. Even without seeing eye to eye on everything Gen knew he could trust Val, and he liked having him around.

He took his hand off of Val's shoulder, not wanting to linger too long. "Whatcha thinking of makin'?" He asked smiling a bit, because... damn, Val was smiling at him.

Tally · « **Reply #18 on:** January 19, 2013, 01:45:25 am »

All told, some alcohol might do Gen some good. Relax him, help take his mind off things. Heck, it might help them both. Val hated to see him so anxious.

Aha! He'd gotten another smile out of him! He always felt like he should get a gold star for that. He knew perfectly well he was damn adorable, and he used it well. Grinning now, Val pulled out two glasses.

"You want something fancy or something simple?"

Nix · « **Reply #19 on:** January 23, 2013, 10:25:10 pm »

"Make me whatever ya want, I trust ya." Gen grinned at his cute employee. "But impress me."

He was glad to see that Val pulled out two glasses. They could both benefit from a good drink right now. He had a lot he should be preparing Val for, but even given the short timeline, there would be time for that later. He moved to the other side of the bar and sat down on one of the stools grinning up at Val. "Gimme whatcha got barkeep."