story thing part 1

"200 food slips."

"What?"

"200 food slips. Throw a jug of booze in there and I'll make sure nothing happens to you."

"You're out of your mind. What makes you think I'd hire you at those Tanuki rates? I could exchange two whole tanks of gasoline for that much."

"Well, good luck on making it through the wastes. Protection for you human boys don't come cheap nowadays, I ain't gonna risk my skin if nothing comes out of it."

This was only the third candidate of the day, and it was getting dark already. Now the noise behind him from the market commons was fizzing out and the crowds were funneling their way back to inns, gin joints, whorehouses, wherever it is a monster girl goes after milling about a food stall for a day, doing whatever she can do after bumming a scrap to eat from a vendor who isn't looking. Maybe some of them made their permanent homes in this backwater frontier town, though judging by the heavy armor and shifty eyes on the market goers he'd probably think they were "tourists" or folk more like himself. Travellers looking to get a deal on something, moving on from this hellhole and never looking back once the deal's through.

"That's the problem with Oni like you. Can't fucking think about anything but getting boozed, can't hold a steady job. Don't know why I thought it would be a good idea to come see you, I was told you were the best in town. I honestly didn't think you'd have the clit to make me pay an arm and a leg for you." Talking big to cover up the dejection.

"Yeah? Fuck you too, kid. Why don't you go get a job at the peepshow down the street, suits a mouthy slut like you." Sneering down at him now, arms crossed, fangs flashing.

She'd been leaning on the remains of a stone wall, one of the many that must have formed some big impressive looking structure before the storms rolled through and tore them apart. Now they served to block off the shanty stands of the commons from the opposite side to form a narrow alley where shady types like to congregate. As the nice Oni lady had indicated, there was a hole at the end of the alley where a girl could "have a good time", as the locals might say. Neon lighting up for another night of business, we've got boys here every kind of boy you need come 'n' see.

This is where he'd thought to hire muscle. He was sure it was a good tipoff from that Minotaur bartender, he just had to shake his ass around a little to get her to talk about the mercenary folk who were in town. Info was tight but essential to his journey.

The arm-for-hire towering above him, this red Oni he'd managed to piss off to no end, was said to have been an experienced body guard. She wore a couple of ratty shoulder pads, leather chestplate, a large hoop on one ear, a hipflask hung through a chain belt, blonde hair spilling around her jagged horn in an unwashed mess, and now a cocked eyebrow and malicious grin. Probably a good time to book it, unless he wanted to end up in a ditch or on a leash.

But he was mouthy, and he wasn't going to let this go.

"Look, just tell me where I can find more guns like you. I've been out in the sun all day, by myself, looking, and I'm not about to leave here until I've got protection."

She stood up straight at this, pushing off the wall. Taking a step forward, standing erect above him, craning her head down dramatically to make him feel the height difference, looking him straight in the eyes. Toothy grin.

"You all alone here, boy? That ain't no good. I'll give you some protection, all right."

"Didn't you fucking hear me? I said--"

"Shut up."

He took steps back with her in time. He was up against an empty stall now, seemed like this part of the commons had shut down for the day.

He landed a stomp one of her boot toes and was off, barreling over countertops and pushing over empty crates.

He didn't think monsters of that size could run fast, but she had the advantage of being basically unimpeded, using her massive strength to crash through stalls without having to change pace. Looking back, he saw the stands he'd been jumping through were nothing but scattered boards now, with the Oni behind him settling into a sprinting attitude.

It didn't help that his traveling pack kept getting caught on odd corners, forcing him to slow down and unhook it while the raging Oni gained distance on him.

Him and his big mouth. She followed him to the part of the commons still active with business, now he had merchants to curse at him as he kicked over bins of fruit and exotic trinkets as he headed for his lodges. It was one of the few paladin-run joints in town, he'd be safe if he could just get to their doorstep.

He had just made it to a dried up fountain square when the monster gained enough on him to lunge and come crashing down on him. There was a group of bums massed around here, a small nomad homeless community who'd been setting up camp, rolling out yellowed mats and tents filled with holes, rusty cooking pots going with mysterious food-like substances boiling in them, all the solitary homeless: Elven wanderers, an Oomukade curled up asleep, a shaggy old Jinko seated on an overturned crate who'd seen better days. A scar-covered Dragon was rocking herself gently in a canvas chair. A couple of ragged Harpies were looking on the spectacle of the chase with mild disinterest, but for the most part these hobos didn't take notice.

It felt like a building falling on him, though she made sure to roll with him as they met the ground so as not to snap his fragile human bones. Definitely a pro, she knew how to pursue and take falls.

Now he was on top of her, she on her back, him locked in her arms like a lover. While he could barely catch his breath, she seemed to be in fine condition, as if it were a leisurely jog she'd had.

"I've got you, I've got you, you dumb bitch." She had him in a firm hug from behind, his arms locked to his sides, her massive forearms buldging out at him.

He thought about screaming. He thought about it, then decided against it. No way was he going to beg for help from these dirty hobos, he had too much pride.

The sun was long gone by now. One of the hobo's tents cast a dim a light on them. Sensing that they'd get a show, a couple of middle-aged Lamia slithered up to watch him struggle in the Oni's arms. They were snickering and jabbering to one another in a foreign tongue. I haven't seen a good rape in a long time, they were probably saying.

Another hobo was standing some distance behind the Lamia, watching. He couldn't make out the species from his vantage, although it appeared she was shrouded from head to toe in rags. The sun had been intense that day.

With one arm fixed on his neck, she used the other feel him down. Groping hard at his chest, pinching him through his cheap shirt, running her calloused hand down to his waistline.

"Quiet, huh? I like good boys like you. I'll keep you around, you'll be my companion once I fuck your brains out." Tears were welling up in his eyes, he'd started to realize that he actually couldn't talk his way out of this one. He decided to try and scream but the arm pressed against his throat reduced him to gurgling pitifully. Is this all I'm good for? Getting rolled and fucked?

The shrouded hobo in the back had stepped beside them now. Just standing there, staring down at the two of them thrashing around. She made no move to interfere, just stood and stared through piercing grey eyes.

"Whoa, stand back if you're going schlick off, sis. This is my catch, see? You gotta pay if you want in." She had trouble undoing his belt with one hand, so she started ripping at his pant legs and the fabric around his crotch.

This woman had a different aura from the dirty old Lamia behind her. She stared straight into his eyes, almost as if she had a question for him. She was waiting for some cue, maybe from him.

"Hey, no, seriously. Fuck off." When the shrouded woman failed to respond the Oni slowly curled up, arm still on his neck, and stood. Now he just hung from her grip, toes a few inches off the ground.

From his lower position in the Oni's headlock he could see that the women stood at roughly the same height. The shrouded woman stood maybe an inch or two taller. She continued to stare at him, completely ignoring the Oni calling out obscenities now. How dare this nobody shrug her off? The rage that had briefly converted to lust was returning in a fresh wave.

"That's it. I'm gonna fuck you up." The Oni let him down. She didn't seem to care if he ran off while she was preoccupied, just needed to satisfy her rage. He broke eye contact with the shrouded woman to look in fear at the Oni. The woman followed his gaze and met the Oni's eyes for the first time in the exchange.

"Hey." The Oni stepped in with a punch, taking a long moment to pull her arm back to see if the woman might back off. You got the sense that the Oni was hesitating, or sizing her up. In any case the stranger never averted her cold stare.

All at once the Oni stepped in grabbed at the collar of the stranger's cloak. Some of the shroud fell away to reveal light brown skin, the trace of an arrowhead snaking up to her jawline. Presumably a tattoo of some sort.

"Do not trouble this boy."

"What?"

"This boy is clearly defenseless. Do not trouble him."

"Listen, you..."

The Oni's grip on the stranger's garment was trembling so hard with rage and anxiety that the shroud continued to undo itself.

First the stranger's jawline came into view. Chiseled features. The beginnings of another design, along her cheekbones. On the right, a solid black circle edged with triangular spines. On the left, a sharp, bent crescent. They looked lighter than the arrowheads, almost like birthmarks. Streaks of fine silver hair crossed the sides of her face. Hair disheveled, not unlike the Oni. But it was silver to the Oni's gold. And now that her face was free in the pale moonlight, he could see that she was very beautiful.