A loud bang woke up Rayan
“Hey shitass, wake up” he heard a familiar voice say
Rayan blinked his eyes open, taking in the scene around him. He had managed to get a hotel room last night, though he couldn’t remember much, and his head was pounding. He turned around in bed and felt someone there, that wasn’t normal. Elio was standing at Rayan’s bedside holding a small trash can that he had used to wake Rayan up.
Rayan leaned over and puked in the bucket, “Thanks El”
He felt a hand caress his back, “Hey baby, that was quite a time last night”
Rayan turned his head and was met by an attractive, olive-skinned woman who smiled at him “If your friend wants to join in, you’ll have to pay extra”
Rayan groaned “No thanks doll, how much do I owe ya?”
“Three hundred for the fun, one hundred for the crying,” Elio raised an eyebrow
Rayan grabbed his wallet and counted out a small stack of white bills “Here, plus a little extra”
“Thanks, hun. Call me again sometime” The girl got up, dressed, and left the room
“Ugh, I feel like shit” Rayan grumbled reaching the ground
“You never could hold your liquor” Elio handed Rayan what he was looking for
Rayan uncorked the bottle and took a swig “What time is it?”
“Little before noon," Elio checked his watch "Cap wanted to meet up for breakfast”
“Damn, I don’t remember anything from last night, did we have a shooting competition?”
“Yeah, I think I won” Elio reached into a pocket “S-speaking of which”
Elio produced something wrapped in a white linen handkerchief, he tossed it to his friend.
Rayan unwrapped it and found his pistol
“Cap and I thought you were a little too far gone to carry it”
Rayan admired how the fine gold damascene glinted in the light against its blackened steel body.
“Thanks, probably the right call” Rayan moved to get up, finding himself naked under the covers
“Shit man, heads up next time” Elio turned to give Rayan some privacy
“So what’d you get up to last night?”
“Not much, played some more Court after you left, slept at home, the usual”
“Yeah, win any money?”
“Not really, had a bad hand around last call” Elio lit a cigarette “You heading off to Barduna today?”
“Yeah, I’ll take the train tonight, be back in a few days”
Rayan finished getting dressed, donning a fine pair of gray trousers, a copper waistcoat, and a fine, fur-trimmed emerald coat
“Well aren’t you looking dapper”
“Shut the fuck up, frost monkey”
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfYmqu9vrO
The pair walked across the street to a small restaurant and walked inside, meeting the rest of the crew at a table inside
“He’s alive,” Leora joked “Glad to see you, sunshine”
Rayan sat down and poured a cup of coffee
“Someone’s grumpy this morning,” Ana remarked
“He’s just hungover” Dorian stated matter-of-factly
“Good to see you too, Pramitch, you’re looking dull as ever”
Dorian ignored him and sipped his coffee
“Where are you all off to today?” Ana asked
“I’m probably staying home, I need to f-fix up some things” Elio responded
“I’ll probably stay home too, enjoy my shore leave,” Leora said
“I’m going to Barduna for a few days to get away from you lot”
“Oh right, say hi to your sister for me,” Leora said with a wink
“First of all, ew. Second, fuck you”
“What did I do?” Leora put her hands up jokingly
“Hmm. What about you Ana?” Rayan asked
“Me? I’ll probably see if there’s anything to do around town. Might go see one of those new holo-pictures, we’ll see”
A waiter approached and the group ordered their food.
“Hey El, I heard that the Velenskreg is in a few days, I wanna see if those magic hands are all talk or not,” Leora said
“The Velenskreg? What’s that?” Ana asked
“It’s a fighting tournament, winner gets nine thousand,”
“Really? Fighting? Isn’t that a little dangerous?” Ana questioned, skeptically
“What's wrong with fighting? It’s not more d-dangerous than anything else we do”
“I don’t see the appeal,” Ana said
“Oh yeah, the appeal of two men beating the shit out of each other, how thrilling”
“Shut up Rayan, you’re just saying that because you’re bad at it,” Leora remarked
“No… well, okay, sure. Maybe that’s true, but my point still stands”
“I don’t know where you g- guys are coming from, I think it’s a good way to ease some stress”
Rayan laughed “So I guess you just like sinking those massive fucking bear paws into some unsuspecting little twink… just pounding away at him…”
“Shut the fuck up Rayan,” the whole table snapped
“...give you a fucking pounding…” Elio grumbled under his breath
“Hey! I’m just saying that most people don’t need an excuse to touch other guys”
“Do you need an excuse for that girl in your b-bed this morning?”
“Oh? Do tell…” Leora laced her fingers and placed her chin on them, elbows on the table
Rayan kicked Elio under the table
“Come on space brain, we’re dying to know,” Ana said mockingly
“Don’t worry about it princess,” Rayan said “Shit for brains doesn’t know what he’s talking about,”
“Does that make you shit for brains?” Dorian piped up
“You know what Dor?...” Rayan wisely rethought his words “Nevermind”
“Now you’ve got us in suspense, Red. Wanna share with the c-class?”
“I just found a lady last night, that’s all”
“Ooh, is she pretty?” Ana asked
“What’s her name?” Leora joked
“Do you need to see the doctor?” Dorian quipped
“It’s none of your guys’ fucking business” Rayan was exasperated
“Didn’t think you could get any more red there Ray” Leora said “Have a drink”
Rayan shook his head and took a drink, “fuck all you guys” he muttered
“We’re n-not the only ones you’re fucking” Elio joked
Rayan glared at him as the food arrived.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrVXq0CHaR
