[color=696969][center][url=https://fontmeme.com/fonts/punk-typewriter-font/][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/240122/96b51cbc48bd377db299e57ead156677.png[/img][/url][/center][b][color=634533]Time:[/color][/b] A.M.
[b][color=634533]Location:[/color][/b] The River Port Lodge
[b][color=634533]Interactions/Mentions:[/color][/b] [@Conscripts] [@mole]
[b][color=634533]Equipment: [/color][/b] [s]Knife[/s] (Barrock took it), drugs, and wallet looted from dope peddler
[center][h3][color=634533]✠✠✠✠✠[/color][/h3][/center]

The oak door wheezed on its hinges as Vasco stepped into the daylight and sighed his disappointment. No ice for the lizard-man today. That much was clear when Barrock had confiscated his blade with those meaty paws of his. [color=C2B4A7]“So much for my lizard skin suit,”[/color] he muttered, running a calloused thumb along his jawline. 

Beneath his skin crawled that familiar itch—insistent, demanding attention. Dipping into his trouser pocket, he fished out one of his latest acquisitions—strange nuts he’d lifted off the two-bit dope peddler the other night. What they did exactly? He couldn’t say. But in Vasco’s world, where tomorrow wasn’t guaranteed, some things deserved at least one chance.

He popped one between his teeth and began to chew. Bitter flooded his mouth first—Christ, like licking a rusty razor! Soon after came warmth, then tingling, then the flood of crimson juices that stained his teeth. Methodically he worked the quid. The rush would come soon enough; it always did. Already he could feel the first hints of it—tightening in his jaw, the slight quickening of his pulse…

[color=white] “You’re very brave,”[/color] came Aurora’s voice behind him. [color=white] “Both Barrock and you… Thank you.”[/color]

What burst from him? Not laughter—nothing so kind. A bark, humor nowhere to be found. [color=C2B4A7]“Brave, eh?”[/color] He hawked and spat a stream of crimson juice that hit the dirt with a splat. The red stain spread like a fresh kill on the ground.

Vasco squared himself to the light elf. [color=C2B4A7]“In that highfalutin religion of yours, doll, is lying a sin? Or is it a bigger sin to say the words you really wanna call fellas like us?”[/color]

With jaw working mechanically, his gaze bore into her unseeing eyes, his intensity undiminished by her blindness.

Their standoff broke at the creak of the lodge door. Barrock, massive frame filling the doorway, lumbered toward them. 

Between cheek and gum Vasco tucked the quid, then asked, [color=C2B4A7]“Why didn’t you bump him off?”[/color] Stretching out his hand, palm up, fingers impatient, he beckoned for his knife. [color=C2B4A7]“You know he’s gonna scram and squeal to his buddies the first chance he gets.”[/color][/color]