Dead Men’s Tales
“The fuck you been anyways? I ain’t heard from you, for days.” Kurel asked
Where had he been indeed.
“Reed, you re-”
“Rizzy.”
“Whatever man! This is about money here. Real cash. Mooola. Who gives a rats ass what ya callin yourself these days. Far as we’re all concerned the Unbreakable Reed’s a staple around here and it’s what we know to expect.”
“But… its Rizzy now…” the monk sighed and focused on the goblin. “Real cash. What sorta sums we talkin?”
“Well… seem that magister ya handled a few months back had all sorts of accounts. Accounts without heirs or family collectin them if you catch my drift. Just sittin around, waitin, gatherin dust, man, gatherin fuckin dust.”
Riz remembered the price he got for the skull. The charismatic noble he had sold it to had seemed like nothing to him, but he realized he must have had interests all over the spectrum by the decor of his manor; the variety of other trinkets he had been able to pilfer when same said magister had refused to sell the shadow stone carving back to him at a reasonable price. It was still a stupid item to die for, but then all the string of murders related to that same excursion had felt unnecessary. People were way too attached to their things and had lost their lives for them.
“Language.” He admonished in a more gravely tone than usual, “So what’s y’plan?”
“Whatever man, whatever. There’s a handful of different accounts the boys want to bust into, but they don’t have a clue what they’re doin. Not like you, Reed.”
“Rizzy.” The correction was so bored, it was hardly worth stating, but he wouldn’t give in. He was not called ‘unbreakable’ for no reason, “So… that’s it? A bank robbery. Y’called me all the way down here for a bank robbery.”
“He’s got another one in the vault.” The tiny green man pulled a photo from within his hat and sure enough was the registered photo of an artifact. A twin in all intents. A shadow infused skull on a bed of stones and gems, the sort, Saeris would roll his eyes at and deem ‘fuckin rocks’ for their immense value. Coincidence? The goblin continued his sale, despite the fact that Riz was already sold. “They’re after a few different accounts, ones that have all fallen by the wayside because of deaths and missin families. Once the investigations are complete that there’s one one they go to, it’ll be collected into the banks and government coffers anyways.”
“How much do you like y’boys, Mak?”
“What? No, I know that look. I still get my cut! That’s some real cash right there! Look at it all man, look at it!”
“Would you… no’ want a larger cut?” He stared Promak down, with a face that told of a long history between the two, the sort that let the bookie and dealer and candlestick maker probably know he really wasn’t ‘Rizzy’ now… but the vicious assassin that would silence anyone getting in the way of his mission. And no one needed to remain alive that knew the personal importance of that skull to the elf.
“I hear ya, but my cousin’s on that detail. He’s stupid though and so is his girlfriend. They won’t know better, but they need to come back, even if my cut stays the same.” He caught himself at the end, pointing up at Riz accusingly, “But I get a finders fee for lettin you in on it right?”
Riz could live with that. Stupid family members were easily controlled, and worst case he knew where they would all be found. “Naturally. Thirteen percent?”
“Thirteen! You feelin alright Ree- iiizzy?”
Riz just smiled back and tore the picture into tiny pieces before dumping them into a mug of ale. “Drink up, Mak. We move t’morrow night. I’ve a town t’get back t’paintin.”
“You’re… paintin? Like really paintin.”
“Yup! An I have an apprentice. Soon y’goin t’meet the next generation of Unbreakables. See to it y’as good t’her as y’are t’me.”
“Hey! Hey! What do I call this apprentice when I see em hu?” Mak joked back at him, but Rizzy was in no mood for it.
The monk had to think for a moment. And then grinned and shoved the mug into the man’s chest with enough ferocity some of it sloshed out over his hand. “Finish y’drink Mak, I’ll see ya. I’ll bring m’Gemstone next time too.” Riz waved over his shoulder as he stepped out of the bar, automatically skipping over the tagging rune at the doorway to keep himself from being followed.
“Workin. Made you some pocket change if y’want it. Figure y’might like a little spendin money?” Was all he told Kurel, but now he knew what story he wanted next.
(( @kurel-andiel @batandmole referenced this story too ))