Hello World, I’m alive again! Sorry for my long absence; I caught a coughing flu that on it’s way out developed into a severe case of strep throat, which in practice is a bit like having your throat carved out with a rusty spoon while a deranged pixie goes hog wild on the inside of your lungs with a lathe. Which, while an incredibly crafty and whimsical way to completely debilitate a man, is positively horrid to experience.
But I digress. -_-
Here is one of my most recent private commissions, the Shadowrunner Ace! ^_^
“The loneliest moment in someone’s life is when they are watching their whole world fall apart, and all they can do is stare blankly.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
I've heard a lot of poignant quotes about loneliness and how anger destroys your soul. A load of drek even if it was remotely applicable to my life right now. I have more pressing matters than tackling my anger issues. Matters such as a new place to live and work to get. My old place had burned down a week before. An act committed by the last man I would have ever expected.
But in Sanjay's defense... I deserved it. I had murdered our friend, his brother, in a panicked rage in that house. I suppose I ought to be grateful that Sanjay had been nice enough to save my clothes and what belongings hadn't been stolen by the Shadowrunners that had shown up to geek me. Still trying to figure out why those assholes let me live.
I was soaked to the bones by the time I found a semi-decent abandoned house for the night. Fucking Seattle weather. The roof seems to be mostly leak-proof although I can hear the rain dripping through somewhere. I realized I needed to find work, but it had been months since anyone had given me a job and my funds were running dry thanks in part to having to actually pay for my surgery and splurging on synthahol in a piss-poor attempt at drowning my sorrows. I knew I had gotten a bad rep in the shadows. "Not a team player" "hot-headed" "trigger-happy psycho-bitch"
I counted myself lucky that one fact about me hadn't gotten out as far as I had heard. After what had happened, I had vowed never to commit cannibalism again. I had been wrong to listen to that spirit and I knew it. No more easy way out. No more painkillers.
While it had been a while, I wasn't rusty when it came to hinting I was looking for work. My old fixer, Francis, was surprised when I gave him the call. He reminded me that, given my reputation, he couldn't promise anything but he would call if something came up.
I almost didn't believe him when he called a few days later. Hell, he seemed just as surprised, but neither of us could complain. Work was work. He'd get his finder's fee and I'd finally be back in the biz.
I didn't know much about the job, just that Francis said the Johnson had specified she wanted "good hired gun who wouldn't ask questions."
It sounded pretty basic and she wanted someone as soon as possible. I went to the meeting place, some bar called Giller's. I was almost immediately directed to the backroom where an elf sat at the far side of a table. She looked like a typical Johnson with her fancy business suit and briefcase.
As I sat down, I heard the door-lock click behind me. I should have been worried, but I was alone with the Johnson and she didn't look armed...
"I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY FRIEND!!!"
Kali shows her street doc (and boyfriend), Sanjay some "thanks" for patching up her arm after a Shadowrun. Did I say "thanks"? I meant "tantrum that he won't prescribe her more pain killers"...
