Difference between revisions of "Logs:The Pay Off"

Jo was expecting to liaison with Red man again, like she usually does when she's reporting to them, but when she arrived at the assigned post in Crom, who she's faced with instead is the boss man himself.

Kimren - all tanned brawn with that miner's gait to him, dressed in browns of cloak and thick boots and looking bulky with the indication that he was armed. When Tacuseth touched down, he was all tight smiles and waves, and Jo eyed him as suspiciously as she did anyone else.

Once she was on the ground and approaching him, "Where's Red man?" was the first thing out of her mouth, letting him know that she didn't like any surprises. She had met the man only once - when she was contracted - and was told explicitly that her dealings were going to be with the Red man from that point forward. It had always been that way....until now.

Kimren gestured for them to move over towards the nearby large tree, away from the looming blue dragon that he clearly had no intentions of hanging around with, and started to walk in that direction. "What, no pleasantries?" he returned easily, his smarmy smile present as he looked over Jo in her black leathers in a leery manner. "I was expecting at least a few words saying that you missed me. At least."

Jo followed him slowly, frowning. "Are ya goin' to pay me extra for bein' sentimental?" was her brief counter, to which the bulky man laughed.

"He tells me yer all business, all the time," Kimren noted on the Red man, having reached the tree, and he turned to lean casually against it. His sharp eyes were always moving - always observant like her own while he spoke. "Always in a hurry, too. Too bad there ain't enough hours in a day for you dragonriders, ehh?"

Jo's really not in a chatty mood, especially when it came to business. Thumbs hooked into pant pockets as she faced him, but she deliberately had put her gaze elsewhere on their surroundings as she affected an almost bored tone. "Ya must be mistakin' me with someone else." Sarcasm was heavy, and she had let that linger before she brought the topic right back to business. "What's needed of me tonight?" She had a little check-in she needed to do with Greenfields, but Jo was an expert in time management these days.

"Fair enough," Kimren gave in, chuckling to himself as he unhooked his cloak and pulled free a few folded sheets of hide, bound together. He angled it her way for her to take as he said, "Actually, it's what I can do for you today. It's taken a while, but, I believe this would be something to bring a little cheer into your life."

Jo took the sheets and unfolded them, her eyes scanning over the brief contents. The names Deetan, Kinervus and Bareta jumped off the hides at her - familiar names that she hadn't seen nor heard in seven turns.

The ones that had betrayed her and gotten her sent to the mines all those turns ago.

The very memories curled Jo's stomach, anger that always kept to the back of her mind as she waded through Greenfield gang protection, and then, her life at the Weyr. She wanted to say she had almost forgotten about the dashing trader - Deetan - the one with promises on his lips, and his hardened friends that had introduced the then-impressionable Jolie to a life of crime. She had almost forgotten about how the kill that sent her away wasn't even by her own hands. The level of anger and revenge that had darkened her heart had to be pushed back and locked up in a cage when Greenfields had asked her to infiltrate the Weyr to try and Impress a dragon, and when she did, such rage had to be pushed down even further.

Tacuseth didn't need to see that ugliness in her, even though by now he had that uncanny way of unlocking things in her head, anyway.

« Damn straight, » came from her lifemate in a sudden rush, the nicked and scratched blue dragon always and ever in sync with his Jo.

There's a fond look to the blue before Jo returned to scan the rest of the pages. From the looks of it, Deetan was spotted somewhere in Bitra - last place being a popular gambling den down that way. He had mysteriously 'cleaned house' there, gaining more than enough in winnings before he split. As for the dirty couple, Kinervus and Bareta, they were spotted in Telgar - near the Weyr, of all places. Not much else was written on their account, but the bluerider was certain those two were still up to their old tricks, seven turns later. It pissed her off that the three of them clearly have had a good old time living it up while she had to rot away in the mines for what they had done - well, it was only for a certain number of months before she broke out, but still. Had she served the full sentence...

"It not much, but it's a start," Kimren broke the silence between them as he watched her for any reaction. "It's the whole reason why we have this arrangement in the first place, isn't it? And they weren't very easy to look for, let me tell you right now."

Took him long enough, though. "Deetan always was good at hidin' like a rat." That was all she was going to say about it aloud. Jo folded the hides back up, its contents fully absorbed into her brain before she opened up her jacket and concealed the hides within. "Thanks," she gave, her tone cordial as she zipped her jacket back up. "I trust ya'll continue to keep me posted." Not a question. She didn't have the time nor resources to keep up a search for the bastards herself, so she had no choice but to rely on the Crom man with the right contracts and trackers.

Kimren spread his hands in a gesture to her thanks, his smile crafty as he answered, "My resources are all tied up at the moment, but our agreement will always be at the forefront of my mind," and a long finger lifted to tap his own temple. He turned that finger on her to add, "This merely solidifies it. I won't have any need for you today, but keep your ears cocked anyway. We both know how quickly the wind can change in these lands of ours." He straightened finally and pushed himself off the tree he leaned, signaling an end to their brief meeting.

Jo trusted the man as far as she could throw him, but, he was opportunistic enough that she knew he'll keep to their bargain. There's a two-fingered salute to him that was accompanied with a tight smile, his words gaining no more answers from her. As she turned back towards Tacuseth, the only thing that filled her mind at the moment was her dear old friends that had gifted her with a one-way ticket to the mines from back in the day.

If she were that girl again on the run, it would be a no-brainer what she would do with this welcomed piece of information. Seven turns later and a full dragonrider, such matters had to be looked at more delicately. Jo wasn't as impulsive as she used to be. The girl finally had developed some patience, at least.

With all of her duties and life to consider, Jo can wait.

Comments

Azaylia (Dragonshy) left a comment on Mon, 21 Jan 2013 03:33:49 GMT.

< Bumbumbuuuuum~

Taikrin (Taikrin) left a comment on Mon, 21 Jan 2013 07:14:03 GMT.

< Hurray! This is fun! And awesome! And exciting!

Leova (Varied) left a comment on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 02:29:39 GMT.

< <3

Get 'em get 'em get 'em!