"As flashy green thugs go, he should not be hard to locate," shrugged Shadow, hands laced sternly behind his back as Valdis stood stiffly at attention. "He's crafty, but vain. And his tastes are predictable. Once he hits the Casino Zone dive bars, he'll be flirting, smoking, boozing and gambling. Specifically, gambling with funds that were supposed to buy us certain... information last month. Funds he has squandered while possibly selling said information to our enemies. NO one takes me for a fool, agent Valdis." Shadow's eyes locked with the fox's. "Find him."
"Y-Yes, sir!" nodded Valdis, curtly clicking boot-heels. His imposing superior, clad in only an open robe, slowly walked circles around him, but the fox knew better than to return the stare.
"Excellent," nodded Shadow, turning to peer out the window. "Remember, see what he's spending, where he's going, who he's with. But stay out of sight. Once all is said and done, your reward will be substantial." Stepping in, the hedgehog patted the fox's bubbly orange rump. "Mmm... I think a personal bonus will be in order, too. A nice weekend at my place, perhaps. If you succeed, that is."
"I..." Valdis stammered as his face suddenly grew tingly and hot. "I-I would love that. Very much. I shall not fail!" The hedgehog smirked and cupped his ear. "Sir!"
"That's better," nodded Shadow, smiling confidently as he adjusted the bard's vest and gave him a private squeeze. "Go."
WELP. It only took one seemingly innocuous misstep for well-laid plans to implode. You'd think a loud, flashy, roguishly handsome green hedgehog in a leather jacket would be easy to find, but the Casino Zone proved to be quite big, and Valdis had to order drinks wherever he went to keep up appearances as he peered through the carousing multitudes. Most of the time it was just water--he didn't want to dull his senses--but that many drinks eventually catch up with you. Making sure no one followed, he ducked into a large, out-of-the-way alley and "watered" a healthy patch of weeds behind a dumpster. Shaking off, he then made his way back towards the street, glancing around, quite pleased no one had seen him -- until he collided chest-first into the very hedgehog he'd been sent to find. The green brute was imposing, to say the least. Tall, muscular and quick, he grabbed the stunned bard's shoulders before the fox's vision had even corrected.
"Oh!" blinked Valdis, brushing at the surprised hedgehog's shiny leather vest, "I'm terribly s-sorry, I didn't mean to... to, um--"
"Tail me?" grinned Scourge, leaning in menacingly as his powerful clawed fingers tightened around the fox's biceps. "Well you're doing a piss-poor job of it, purple hair." His eyes narrowed to suspicious slits. "Hey... I know you. You're that one fox, one of Shadow's bitches out tryin' to turn me in. A bard or some shit."
"I--don't know you," blinked Valdis, hands rising as the powerful hedgehog gripped his throat and slowly backed him against the alley wall. "I mean, y-you're Scourge, right? What I meat to say is, y-yes, I'm a bard. But I don't-- I'm not working for--"
"Shut it, fox. I don't like gettin' lied to," glared Scourge, looking the bard over before rifling through his vest, armpits and crotch. "Wow. Nice cock. No weapon, though. I'll give you some credit, purple hair. Takes balls coming out here to find me all by yourself. And I'm glad ya heard of me, so I'm gonna cut you a break, see?" Releasing his captive's throat, the hedgehog leaned and gave a toothy grin, blocking escape with his arm. The sweet scent of leather, musk and beery sweat hit the wary bard's nose. "So what's your name?"
"It's... it's Valdis," offered the fox, cautiously rubbing his neck, "I... I only came in here to take a leak, I don't want any trouble."
"Too late for that," laughed Scourge, stepping closer and turning the fox's chin, looking over his face, throat and chest. "You're a pretty one, Valdis. A little dumb, but pretty. That's how I know you're one of Shadow's boys, see? He's got his little harem going, he don't hire no fuglies, hehe. So is this about his fuckin' money?"
"Uh..." Valdis opened his mouth, then thought the better of it, looking away as Scourge stared intently.
"Uh huh. I told that dickhead this shit takes time," grumbled Scourge, turning his head and spitting. "See, I'm working on some leads, Valdy. Good ones, but they ain't gonna pan out overnight. Shads needs to calm the fuck down and let me do my thing, okay? You tell him that, Valdis. You tell him from ME. And if he don't like it, he can come down here himself and talk with me hog to hog. Not send in some fuckin' scrub."
"I'm a bard. I live my job, Mr. Scourge," glowered Valdis, standing up straight, "I'm not some wet-behind-the-ears stripling." He shoved the surprised hedgehog's arm out of the way, but Scourge blocked his exit as the fox's hackles rose. "Don't waste my time, hedgehog," he calmly hissed, "I'll relay your message to Shadow. But only because it's my duty to do so, not because I owe you anything. Now let me pass. Before I make you."
Cackling softly as he stepped in close, Scourge's eyes grew as bright as the moon, his grin wide as the night as his large, strong hands took hold of Valdis' hips. "Hey! Hey, hey, hey now. Calm down," he nodded, slowly swaying their bodies side to side, "you know what? I like you, Valdy. I like you a lot. And no worries, I'm gonna let you go, cross my heart. But first? I got a little favor to ask..."
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He's gonna be feeling that one in the morning. xD I love, love, love this commission! All thanks to the impeccable \r\n\t\t\t\t\t
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