Plum Blossom Tavern, Apple Mint Hills:
In a booth of the noisy crowded tavern sat two male Crishi sharing a meal. They were in their mid twenties and spoke a cryptically. Everything else about them was completely different.
“Keep playing in that club and you’ll end up hurt, at best. That game is too dangerous.” Manna Han, the shorter of the two looked at his best friend with a serious glare. At five and a half centimeters, he was slightly less than average height and the shorter of the two. His pigment made him stand out, bright orange with light blue and brown spots. Standing out was particularly bad for his profession. Since it was impossible to hide he took the welcoming image of a man of peace in bright white robes. He ate a simple peanut butter sandwich with fresh carrot and celery slices as a side.
“The game is dangerous, but think of the points,” Guy Xing retorted in his pressed formal black suit. He was much taller at a little more than six and a tenth centimeters. He was green with stripes of yellow and many shades of brown. His meal was a toasted spiced beef sandwich covered in melted cheese. The sides were mashed corn and potatoes. “They really need me in the lineup. I can put in a word for you if you want in.”
“Count me out,” Manna said without a bit of hesitation, “points aren’t worth it if you’re put out of the game.”
Guy paused for a bit. He was seriously thinking about what Manna said. Also his mouth was completely full. “Okay,” he said resigning. Manna’s response was expected. It had been the same for the last few months. Even when they were children, Manna played it safer than most. He didn’t want to join the gang even before they started doing the dangerous jobs. He had a great talent though. Talent wasted lifting purses and knocking over parking meters around town.
They really needed Manna in the gang. He was so good at his work. Once or twice, Guy had thought about forcing Manna into the gang. He decided against it. All their lives, Manna had been stubborn. He also used absolutist, heavy handed methods to solve problems when he felt pushed. Guy decided against pushing the issue hard enough to become a problem.
They had recently recruited a very skilled magnetism master but something told Guy that it would not be enough. Manna’s particular magnetism mastery could be very useful this time around. An inconvenience? Yes. However, Guy was prepared to take risks, unlike some. “We’re playing out of town for a few months. Don’t bother looking me up for a while.”
“Big game?” Manna said then took a drink of milk. Peanut butter was good and cheap but always stuck to the roof of his mouth.
“If there ever was one,” Guy said proudly.
Manna had heard that many times before. It usually meant that Guy and his crew were doing something even dumber or crazier than before. Many times he wondered if Guy’s gang had made any powerful enemies. Someone might come looking for them at anytime to send a message.
Guy continued, “We have a huge play lined up. This one will get us on the map. Even The Chef will take notice.”
Manna looked at Guy like he was crazy because he had to be. “The Chef” was their code word for Cookie, the most dangerous and efficient organized crime boss ever known. It was rumored that he was a Founder. Because of Cookie, all organized crime revolved around Dead Lake, all of it. For the smaller gangs, like Guy’s, to get his attention was never good.
“Don’t look at me like that.”
“You’re not in that league Guy,” Manna said with an air of warning.
“We will be soon. Hey, you think it’s any safer for you with the Pro Stadium being in the neighborhood.”
“Pro Stadium” meant Glory City. All the Protectors came from there. These Superhero/World Policemen types were insanely trained by the greatest. Nearly unbeatable and impossible to bribe, they liked to wander the country when off duty. Even though Thousand Flowers was huge, it included Apple Mint Hills. If they ever caught Manna, pain and prison awaited him.
“Better to be suspended than out. And I never have to worry about any sudden trades.”
Manna was right. Betrayal often plagued his line of work. Newcomers wanted to get ahead no matter who they had to step on. Still, if Guy was anything he was smart and a good judge of character, and character changes. It made him the big shot he was, so far. With any luck, he would be a bigger shot when he came back. Hopefully, he could keep from getting shot in the process.
They eat in silence for a while then Guy’s handheld sounds. Guy read the message and realized, “I have to go.”
“See you later?”
“Of course,” Guy said with certainty. But to be honest, he could never be sure.