So he listened as they made their way out. Well, tried. He wasn't super helpful. I mean, sure, he had been conscious as they traipsed down here through winding tunnels and rooms or whatever. But it wasn't like he spent a lot of time learning how to scout. He wasn't really a hunter. The Lady always seemed to help him get to where he needed.
So between that and that ass of hers distracting him, could you really blame him for not really memorizing their route? No, I didn't think so.
But they got out, she doing to bulk of the backtracking, again, him paying more attention to her assets then to recognizing landmarks.
Once outside, it was his city again. He floated between all the worlds- the rich, the poor, gang members, reporters, police, you name it. He felt at home in every part.
He snorted at her story. "He didn't notice?" He squinted at her for a moment. She was playful and had a goofy sense of humor. "I guess I can see that. Just chalk your tipsy up to your being your normal self. Makes me wonder
though, what you get like when you've had more than a few." He screwed up his face as if considering. "Hmm....I'm betting you're a singer. Karaoke queen. Boozy milkshakes it is!"
His building was on a pretty standard street. Not run down. But nothing dripping with money. No users...nor snot nosed kids for that matter, which he liked. Professionals mostly. His trade brought in enough. Which made him a professional, he guessed. What, exactly, well....that might be harder to answer. It was all a gift of the Lady anyway. He jutted his chin at the Goomba by the door. Now yeah, he was sporting the normal athletic gear. But this was was about 40 years deep into a serious perogi and vodka habit and it showed. But underneath the fat, Mik knew, was solid muscle. If he got his hands on you, you were in trouble. It was just the getting his hands on you that was the challenge.
He looked from Mik to Rune and back again, slight shake to the head. "Wake up behind a dumpster again, Mik? Or bringing home strays?"Mik laughed it off. "Nah. This here's Ascedancy's long lost sister. He asked me to sneak her. I just gave her the scenic tour." He grunted and went back to his screen, disinterested.
It was on a couple flights to his floor so the elevator ride was short and sweet and then he was palmng his entry. His place had a bit of flair. Mauve walls with white trim rectangles. He had a few pieces of art on the wall, mostly suggestive. As in, pretty abstract. Now you might get the impression that they were erotic. And you'd be correct. A friend of his had painted them using a technique he had rather enjoyed. But it was only implied. Well maybe a bit more than implied. His shibari rope practice frame made it rather obvious, in his opinion.
Faux dark wood floors, a plush gray couch and easy chair on a carpet, flanked by end tables. Which meant coasters, of course. He was a respecter of wood.
It was nice and clean. Nothing lasted forever- or was owed to you. So he wasn't too attached to anything here. As in, he wasn't stupid enough to make this place part of his personal identity. You brought nothing in with you and you take nothing out. It was all a rental.
And he planned on using up his deposit.
They came in and shut the door. Off came his shoes and socks. Which was just fucking awesome, what with the hem of his pants wet cold at his ankles. They went next so that he was in his boxers. Finally, he pulled his jacket off, then shirt, dropping them with the others as well.
Then he paused and looked at her for a moment. Well, ok. He didn't expect her to strip down and then hang around naked in front of him while her clothes were cleaned. I mean, yeah, he knew some who would. It wasn't a big deal. But some people were prudes. She was American after all. The ones he'd met were a mixed bag. Which meant he probably should play things on the safe side. He wasn't interested in scaring anyone away.
"Hold on just a sec." He disappeared into the back and scrounged around in his closet for a shirt, sweatpants and socks.. That would do. He grabbed a towel too, but only threw it over his shoulder.
He came back out with the clothes in one hand held out to her. "Here, you can wear this if you want. Unless you want a cocktail dress or latex body suit. Pretty much, those are the options. Up to you." He grinned as he said it. "Let me show you the bathroom. You can drop your clothes out the door. I'll put everything in the washer."
So between that and that ass of hers distracting him, could you really blame him for not really memorizing their route? No, I didn't think so.
But they got out, she doing to bulk of the backtracking, again, him paying more attention to her assets then to recognizing landmarks.
Once outside, it was his city again. He floated between all the worlds- the rich, the poor, gang members, reporters, police, you name it. He felt at home in every part.
He snorted at her story. "He didn't notice?" He squinted at her for a moment. She was playful and had a goofy sense of humor. "I guess I can see that. Just chalk your tipsy up to your being your normal self. Makes me wonder
though, what you get like when you've had more than a few." He screwed up his face as if considering. "Hmm....I'm betting you're a singer. Karaoke queen. Boozy milkshakes it is!"
His building was on a pretty standard street. Not run down. But nothing dripping with money. No users...nor snot nosed kids for that matter, which he liked. Professionals mostly. His trade brought in enough. Which made him a professional, he guessed. What, exactly, well....that might be harder to answer. It was all a gift of the Lady anyway. He jutted his chin at the Goomba by the door. Now yeah, he was sporting the normal athletic gear. But this was was about 40 years deep into a serious perogi and vodka habit and it showed. But underneath the fat, Mik knew, was solid muscle. If he got his hands on you, you were in trouble. It was just the getting his hands on you that was the challenge.
He looked from Mik to Rune and back again, slight shake to the head. "Wake up behind a dumpster again, Mik? Or bringing home strays?"Mik laughed it off. "Nah. This here's Ascedancy's long lost sister. He asked me to sneak her. I just gave her the scenic tour." He grunted and went back to his screen, disinterested.
It was on a couple flights to his floor so the elevator ride was short and sweet and then he was palmng his entry. His place had a bit of flair. Mauve walls with white trim rectangles. He had a few pieces of art on the wall, mostly suggestive. As in, pretty abstract. Now you might get the impression that they were erotic. And you'd be correct. A friend of his had painted them using a technique he had rather enjoyed. But it was only implied. Well maybe a bit more than implied. His shibari rope practice frame made it rather obvious, in his opinion.
Faux dark wood floors, a plush gray couch and easy chair on a carpet, flanked by end tables. Which meant coasters, of course. He was a respecter of wood.
It was nice and clean. Nothing lasted forever- or was owed to you. So he wasn't too attached to anything here. As in, he wasn't stupid enough to make this place part of his personal identity. You brought nothing in with you and you take nothing out. It was all a rental.
And he planned on using up his deposit.
They came in and shut the door. Off came his shoes and socks. Which was just fucking awesome, what with the hem of his pants wet cold at his ankles. They went next so that he was in his boxers. Finally, he pulled his jacket off, then shirt, dropping them with the others as well.
Then he paused and looked at her for a moment. Well, ok. He didn't expect her to strip down and then hang around naked in front of him while her clothes were cleaned. I mean, yeah, he knew some who would. It wasn't a big deal. But some people were prudes. She was American after all. The ones he'd met were a mixed bag. Which meant he probably should play things on the safe side. He wasn't interested in scaring anyone away.
"Hold on just a sec." He disappeared into the back and scrounged around in his closet for a shirt, sweatpants and socks.. That would do. He grabbed a towel too, but only threw it over his shoulder.
He came back out with the clothes in one hand held out to her. "Here, you can wear this if you want. Unless you want a cocktail dress or latex body suit. Pretty much, those are the options. Up to you." He grinned as he said it. "Let me show you the bathroom. You can drop your clothes out the door. I'll put everything in the washer."
"Good and ill.
We're like the wind,
we blows both ways."
- Mad Sweeney, American Gods
- Mad Sweeney, American Gods