The Snake and The Bounty Hunter | Chapter 3
Tanya had attempted to make sense of that so-called 'deputy' for far too long before excusing herself from the conversation. She'd at least learned enough to know that he was most likely a fraud. Something about how he'd insisted on asking questions about where she came from and the way he spoke bothered her. She supposed Earthrealm would have its fair share of leeches, despite these ones being rather awful actors. Or perhaps she was simply to keen to such ploys? She'd been manipulative and deceitful many times before, and had not regretted a single instance of it. These men merely sought material wealth from such things however, and Tanya believed that made her far less evil and petty than those lowlifes. Along her way meandering the paths in this settlement, she'd nonchalantly plucked a knife off a board of papers nearby. Better to be safe than sorry in a place like this, she figured. She caught a few passers-by giving her contemplative looks, as if they were sizing her up by risk and profit. She only regarded them in a snooty manner in return, keeping her head high and shoulders back, just like she'd been brought up back in Edenia. Being born to a family of diplomats and ambassadors left quite a prolonged impact on mannerisms. That's how she liked to think of it, anyway. Oh, how she longed for Edenia once more. If it wasn't this unbearably dull area she just had to be tossed into, it was her prominent sense of self-regard that made her feel that way. She knew her place among these mortals, but they did not know their own when speaking to her. Some called it self-entitlement, but Tanya had been through enough to believe she deserved at least some respect in conversation. Mulling over her thoughts wasn't enough to let her miss the voices coming from down between some buildings. She recognized a name that she'd caught wind of - 'Black'. Without a second thought, she made her way between the buildings to a semi-secluded area; it seemed like an area one would keep small animals in behind their home, or a garden if there was any grass to have one. A courtyard, if a modest one. There was a rather familiar image beyond the edge of the fence she took cover behind. Several armed men surrounding a lone one, presumably not associated with them. Around this corner of the town, the structures blocked the setting sun, and left it dark enough for details to become obscured from a distance. She decided to eavesdrop before intervening, lest she get involved in the wrong skirmish. "You enjoyin' your reward, bounty hunter?" This man had his arms crossed as he blocked the view of his conversational 'partner', his ripped cloak hanging heavy from dirt and wear. it probably hadn't been washed in some time - if ever - she noted with a curl of her lip. The bounty hunter in question made a 'tch' sound, "Didn't get the chance to enjoy it yet. Courtesy of you and your toadies." Yes, that did sound like the man she suspected this to be... "Ya may think yer all gritty an' tough, Black, but yer still just one man." Ah, but they were underestimating this one, just like the last batch did. "Yeah? And one shot's all I need to end you. So I suggest you watch your tone with me, outlaw." This was much more interesting when he was using that tone on other people. "Ever the arrogant lunk-head, eh? Yer ego's gonna get you killed someday. We're only lookin' out for you." She almost laughed out loud at that sorry excuse, and the bounty hunter seemed just as impressed, "You ain't foolin' no one but yourself, Rodgers. Cut the shit and get on with it." "You and what firearms?" Wait, was the bounty hunter unarmed? He had his weapons when he'd left her behind! A shorter member of this group, barely a man, held up a pair of familiar firearms. That little rat. "Didn't keep a close enough eye on yer lifeline, Black. Too busy gawkin' at them soiled doves, eh?" Tanya had had enough of sitting around. She saw an opportunity before her that she wasn't going to let pass by. She moved out from the fence and took a couple steps forward, keeping her attention solely on the bounty hunter of whom she could now see just beyond the tall man in the disgusting cloak, "Tough luck, bounty hunter?" The incredulous look in his eyes made that jab worth it completely, "You again?" By now, all of the opposing group - four or five she quickly counted off - had turned their attention towards her. 'I suppose they didn't catch me eavesdropping, then?' She wore a cheeky grin, "Yes, me again. Did you miss me?" He didn't get a chance to answer, not that he even seemed like he wanted to, because the tall man butted in with his own foolish remark, "An' who areyou supposed to be, lovely?" She didn't even bat an eye at him as her voice became sharp, "I was not speaking to you, you pathetic little man. I was speaking to him. Mind your business." "What did you just say to me?" He's instantly bristled at her comment, just as she'd expected. Men didn't seem to be used to the women speaking back it seemed. Unfortunate for him, she had not had the best of days so far, "Do not play the fool. You know exactly what I said and why I said it." "You have some nerve-" No, no. She was far from finished. She turned and looked him straight in the eye with a glower, "I beg to differ, you petulant plebeian. How about you humour me and tell me who youare supposed to be? Not that I care, mind you." "Big talk, from a lady. If you think 'fer a minute you scare me, little dove, you're sorely mistaken." She needed to be rid of these miscreants at some point or another, "I've not the time for baseless threats. You test my patience at your peril. I insist you leave my companion be, or-" The group of men merely laughed at her, the tall one placing a hand on her shoulder as if he were going to 'kindly' escort her back from whence she came, "Now now, little lady... no need to be so feisty! We would appreciate it if you would mind yer own business. This bounty hunter is nothing but a scourge to us decent folk just tryin' to get by. No one will miss him." That man just laid his filthy hand on her. She ought to kill him for such an ill-judged action. Alas, killing these men would attract unwanted attention.'But so long as they lived...' She roughly shoved his hand off her shoulder and brushed it off on her leggings, "Do not touch me, again." On the contrary, she dared him to do so. He just gave her a smarmy grin, "What, think yer too good 'fer us humble folk?" The bounty hunter scoffed when he said that, "All high 'n mighty-like?" She'd grown tired of this little 'game' of his, "I understand my position in this squabble of a hierarchy perfectly well. You are the insects of which I crush underneath my boot without a single thought." The boy with the bounty hunter's weapons spoke up, "That'd be all high 'n mighty-like, alright!" They laughed at her again, the tall man adding in his meaningless opinion, "It's like you think yer royalty 'er somethin'!" he leaned towards her for added effect, "You ain't royalty here, little lady." The metaphorical rope that was holding her back had frayed to the last fiber. She cast a glance at the bounty hunter whom looked just about as finished with this discussion as she was, as he cast a long glance at his weapons in the kid's hands. If she wasn't going to take care of these men, the bounty hunter most certainly would - with fatal consequences. Wonderful. "I will not warn you again. Ignore me at your own peril." The tall man touched her chin with his hand ever so briefly as he responded in a teasing tone, "As you wish, princess." The last thread snapped in an instant. She snatched his forearm in the blink of an eye and yanked him downwards towards her to deliver a brutal knee to his jaw, disorienting him and sparking a conflict between herself, and these so-called 'outlaws'. With that, the cloak was off, and she went to disarm the nearest man - the boy, in fact who was attempting to aim at her with one of the stolen weapons - with a swift, debilitating kick to the side of his thigh. He instantly dropped both of the firearms he was fumbling with to reach reflexively for his leg, of which was no doubt in an immense amount of pain. She paid him no mind as she focused on the remaining three men that approached her, one armed with a knife and the other two making a move for their own weapons. The knifeman she could handle easily. Those firearms could be a problem, however... The knifeman made his move, going for a stab from the side. She stopped the motion by grabbing him by the upper arm so his was stuck braced against hers. He'd overpower her if she let him, she knew this. She twisted herself so she slipped under her own arm to deliver a quick jab to the gut before swiftly turning to deliver a hard boot to his face as he reeled forward. Two gunmen. She recalled the knife she'd grabbed earlier, and quickly pulled it from the loop that was normally for her kobu jutsu and drove it straight into the closer of the two's thigh. As he attempted to remove it from his leg - that wasn't happening anytime soon - she closed in on the last man who was now aiming his weapon at her. She had to move quickly. She relied on his momentary hesitation. She threw a kick down-under - a literal low blow, even for her liking - and quickly followed it up with a wicked high kick. It was times like this she'd spent much time training to be so nimble. A couple thousand years ago, she'd never be able to throw such a high kick with such grace! The tall man was back up on his feet and making for her at a very quick pace, his jaw now sporting a cruel bruise that she could swear she could see throbbing from here. He went to throw a punch, but it was sloppy and easily blocked. He was mad, and he was making mistakes. Excellent. A few more of the poor punches from him, and she'd managed to trip him when he lunged with a little too much enthusiasm. "So clumsy." She quipped. She couldn't help herself. When Tanya paused to take a glance around at her opposition, she realized very quickly that these men were all bark and no bite. They remained curled up in pain on the ground instead of trying to stand like the tall one did. How pathetic. The bounty hunter on the other hand, had barely moved from where he'd been when the skirmish began, instead choosing to be a bystander than get involved. A curious choice, seeing as he seemed so eager to kill the armed men moments before. She took a second to herself and debated over retrieving the blade she'd 'borrowed' from earlier, but she then realized that would involve ripping it out of that man's leg. Which would involve blood. Disgusting. Mortal. Blood. She instead kept her eyes on the wounded men as she addressed the one she'd intervened for, "Are all men in this... place," she'd caught herself before saying 'realm' instead, "so aggressive?" "That'd depend on where you're from, lady." He sounded like he was in a considerably better mood than earlier. For now, at least. "Not from here, that's for certain." She paused to glance down at her feet, of which she now noticed the faintest of dark red splotches that marred the golden material. With that, she wrinkled her nose and let out an eloquent sound of revulsion, "Ugh. Disgusting." "Don't like gettin' your hands dirty?" He sounded... amused by her ill fortune? She shot him a scathing glare, "As a matter of fact, I don't. Blood is filthy and vile. It also stains and is next to impossible to remove once it's soaked in." "I know." Did he think this to be a joke? "I did not ask for your opinion, you spineless-" She held her tongue in the nick of time. Insulting him wasn't going to get her where she wanted to be right now, "I... apologize. I'm still somewhat worked up that he had the gall to actually touch me." "Doesn't happen often, huh?" Now that was a purposeful jab. She became snippy, "Back to the subject at hand, bounty hunter. Now, I have a proposition for you-" He rolled his eyes at her, an irritable sigh slipping out, "Not this shit again..." "I'm quite serious. You've proven you're..." She shrugged a shoulder, "relatively capable at your job - which I still presume is killing for money. I could use the assistance of one such as yourself for something I've decided I need a helping hand with." It hurt her ego to ask for help so blatantly, but sheneeded the help if she had any hope of returning to Outworld before the next century dawned. He waved a hand dismissively as he went to retrieve his weapons from the ground, just out of reach of the boy who'd taken them in the first place, "Obviously you're more than capable of takin' care of yourself. Don't need me to hold your hand." She scowled, "I wouldn't let you so much as lay a finger on me, lest your mortality rub off on me." Brushing off the grip on one of his weapons, he muttered in response, "... was a figure of speech." A figure of speech? Ah, yes. Earthrealmers had many of those colloquial terms, didn't they? "This realm is just as strange as the stories made it out to be. Interesting." She was expecting to get a bizarre look for letting 'realms' slip out, but he just holstered his weapon and put a hand on the belt they were attached to, "An' who are you, exactly?" Against her better judgement, she let out a short laugh, "You think you're worthy of knowing my name, bounty hunter? You didn't even try to defend yourself that time. I must say, I'm disappointed in you." His rebuttal was swift, "Didn't need to. Courtesy of your unneeded intervention." He paused, as if debating something with himself, before he added on to that comment, "Thanks, either way." She hummed contently. That was the first reasonable thing this mortal had said to her since they met. Perhaps there was hope after all, "I, am Tanya. Consider yourself enlightened." She smirked. She was in exactly the position she wanted to be in, and went straight for the kill, "So, shall you humour me and consider my offer?"
