A new Morning PT3

Posted on Tue Jun 8th, 2021 @ 8:51am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Captain Mattias Richardson [Reece]

Mission: Darkness Rising - A Phoenix Lalor Sub Plot
Location: Illumith
Timeline: MD8 10H00 onwards
3221 words - 6.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Smiling broadly, he holstered his blaster, resheathed his blade, then grabbed Phoenix and spun her down into a dip and kissed her deeply. When they came up for air he winked and whispered. "How far do you think he'll get before the jungle eats him?" Before Phoenix could answer, a distant roar was heard, followed by a high pitched scream, which ended abruptly.

"Not far" she quipped. "Shall we continue?" She asked as he put her back on her feet. "We should probably not linger too long out here."

Nodding, he replied as they moved. "Yeah, his buddy's body is going to attract critters real soon, as ripe as he already was."

They moved deeper into the ruins and soon were entering the main market place. Beings of all races and creeds mingled and yelled and shoved as they bartered or just wandered.

Leaning into whisper in her right ear, Mattias said, "How do you want to do this? Divide and surprise, like on Pacifica, or stay together and I end up carrying all your purchases?" He playfully goosed her right butt cheek as he finished speaking.

"How about we just stick together?" She purred back.

Hearing her purr like that had Mattias thinking about what they would do later, back on the Black Watch. "Alright then," he looked left and right. "Lady's choice."

Looking around she spotted a stall that sold blades. It was one of their shared interests. "Shall we?" She nodded at the stall.

Seeing the stall in question, Mattias made an approving sound in his throat. He had given Phoenix her first set of throwing daggers on their one month anniversary, after she had asked for him to teach her. He was surprised at how quickly she had picked up the skill. He wondered just how many more skills she had picked up along the way. "Oh, come to papa."

Laughing, she followed him to the stall. She studied a few of the blades curiously.

The stall owner, an Angosian female, ignored Mattias, thinking that he was a boring human male. Phoenix, however, with her beautiful silvery-blue eyes, long, slender neck and a delicious looking body...now she deserved attention. Stepping closer, she ran her green eyes over Phoenix's body again, before smiling and asking, "And what can Heldara do for you, dear?"

Assessing the woman with a warm smile, Phoenix replied "i am looking for throwing knives. Do you have any in stock?"

"Of course I do!" Heldara replied with a hungry grin. "I have the best in selection of throwing knives, from fine, delicate needles to blades large enough, and sharp enough, that they would decapitate your target before they even knew what hit them." She held out her open hands, palms up, and asked. "May I see your hands?" There was an unmistakable lust in her eyes.

Phoenix held out her hands. She was glad that over the years she had gained some calluses from her practice with swords. No longer were they the soft hands of a princess.

When Heldara saw and felt Phoenix's hands, she let loose with an approving purr. "Very nice!" She gently ran her fingers over every part of her palms and fingers, especially on where the callouses should be. "I see you are no stranger to knife work. Tell me," she leaned forward a little closer and whispered. "You and the brute. You're not, together, are you?" She had a hopeful look in her eyes.

Leaning in, Phoenix smiled and whispered. "Yes, we are, but..." she smirked at him. "Its fun to make him jealous." She stepped closer.

At first there was a look of disappointment in the Angosian's eyes but, when Phoenix stepped closer and she both heard the flirty tone in the woman's voice and caught the hint of an arousing sweetness in the air, she gave Phoenix a conspiratorial smirk of her own. "Oh? You mean there is more to him than just siring your children?" She cast another glance at Mattias, though definitely not her type, he did seem to be of at least moderately adequate breeding stock.

"Oh yes indeed" Phoenix smiled. "Much much more." She linked her arm through the woman's arm companionably. "So, what do you have to show me?"

Heldora's eyes lit up when Phoenix grabbed her. "Mmmmm...so strong for such a delicate flower. You are full of surprises. But come! I show you!" She then led Phoenix deeper into her stall, to where a heavy curtain hung over the aisle. Reaching down, Heldora lifted the curtain, revealing a plush area inside, clearly used to entertain special customers. "Please, dear lady," she purred, her eyes filled with a look of hunger. "Enter and be comfortable."

Phoenix glanced back at Mattias as sent him a smirk.

Mattias had not missed a single bit of the interaction between Phoenix and the proprietor. While he discreetly moved closer, he still seemed to keep his attention on the various blades and other blunt force weapons that were on display. He gave Phoenix a subtle number two gesture, indicating that he would give them two minutes before he joined her.

Phoenix stepped inside the tent and paused.

The room was decorated in dark tapestries and candles.
There were piles of pillows strewn about, allowing for leisure comfort and conversation. All around the room, there were display cases, filled with exotic looking weapons, clearly more towards the high end level of quality. "Please," the Angosian said softly, "Make yourself comfortable. Would you care for tea? Dates?" She moved to a side table, where a pot was currently steaming and glanced back at her guest, smiling softly.

"Tea would be great. From what I saw outside, you have quality products, but the clientele leaves a lot to be desired." Gracefully Phoenix sank to a cushion.

"Please!" Heldora exclaimed as she poured the tea into two delicate crystal cups. "Those savages out there wouldn't understand the style and grace of sliding a finely honed blade across a throat, seeing the confusion in your targets eyes, unsure if they had just died or not, then having their head slide off of their body." She spoke as if the idea turned her on.

Phoenix smiled at her. "I fully understand that. Riff raff like that really have no business buying quality blades."

Turning, Heldora gave Phoenix a coy smile. "I think you're trying to seduce me to get a lower price on what ever you came here to buy."

"I am sure your prices are fair and I would never expect a discount. I have seen your work, its quality." She was frank in that assessment.

Heldora curtsied slightly, her smile never wavering. She was impressed. "This really isn't your first time. Very good." She returned the teacups to the tray. Opened a compartment under the sideboard and pulled out a dusty bottle of blue liquid and three glasses. "Call your man in so we can have a frank conversation."

Phoenix smiled and called towards the curtain. "Honey... come on in and join us" her tone was highly suggestive with a lilt of laughter.

The curtain lifted a beat later. "Dearest? Have you made a new friend? Should I be jealous?"

"You are always jealous" she replied with a smirk.

"And with good reason! You are..." he mutely gestured over all of her. "And I'm, well, me."

"He does have a point, my dear," Heldora agreed easily as she poured three glasses of the blue liquid. "Romulan Ale, vintage, 2256. It takes a while for this to ferment." She handed the first glass to the beauty with the slivery-blue eyes, the next to her male and then she lifted her glass up in a toast, "To new friends."

"To new friends" Phoenix replied and raised her glass in reply.

"To new friends." Mattias echoed. He then waited, watching Heldora.

Chuckling, the Angosian weapons dealer finally gave the man an approving smile. Glancing to the beauty, she said, "Your mate is not as stupid as he looks." She then downed her glass of ale in one large gulp. "See? No poison. Your mate passed my tests, sir. Now drink. Or are you afraid?"

Mattias grinned a knowing smile. Then swallowed the whole glass of ale as well. To his credit, he kept the reation to the harsh liquid deep inside. Lifting his now empty glass, he continued to grin. "Got anything stronger?"

This made Heldora burst out in joyful laughter.

Phoenix drained her glass easily - unlike the first time she had tried it. "Good Vintage"

Heldora took the empty glasses and refilled them, handing them back out. "Now human...may I have your names?" She asked both. "My name is Heldora. This is my shop and my business. What we discuss in here goes no further. You have my word as an Angosian."

Mattias glanced to Phoenix. "Ladies first, my love."

"Lily" Phoenix said. "Lily Kass." She gave her name easily.

"Mattias Richardson." He knew that if any search was done on his name, it would come up as a former SFMC Captain, gone rogue after his family was murdered and those responsible later found, in more pieces than could be counted easily.

Heldora put her large right hand to her chest and bowed her head to them. "Welcome. For this day forward, you will always be welcome in my shop, wherever you might find it." She chuckled. "So, let us get down to why you are here. Have you seen any of my wares that interest you? Or were you looking for something more...refined?" She looked to Lily first.

"As I said, I am in need of some throwing knives, with good balance and sharp edges."Lily said with a smile. "A smooth cut is better than getting messy."

Smiling, Heldora nodded in reply. She said, "That is certainly true! Now. Do you have a metal preference, overall weight, overall length? Concealable? Any added flourishes, engravings, encrusted jewels, et cetera?"

Lily reached into her hair and pulled out a small thin dirk and placed it on the table. "I need 3 sets of this type, and then a couple of sets for holsters. For the hair type, the more decorative the better."

Heldora was, at first, impressed by the fact that Lily had had such a nice looking blade hidden on her person. She was doubly impressed that it was hidden in her hair. Reaching down, she carefully picked up the blade, feeling the heft in her hand, the balance on the side of her finger, the finely honed edge. She did some mental calculations. Turning the blade over in her hand, she gripped the middle of the blade with her fingertips handing it back to Lily, handle first. "Very nice. However, though I know what you are wanting, I still need to know how you want it. Or would you rather I made that determination? It could get expensive that way."

"I will leave that up to you." Lily smiled. "I like to be surprised."

Heldora's eyes lit up at that. Turning to Mattias she asked, "And you, Mattias? Is there anything that I can do for you?"

He considered her offer for a few beats. Then, "Are you familiar with ancient Earth blades? Specifically the ones built by the ancient Japanese?"

"Not fully, but, with some research, I will. What is it you are looking for in particular?"

Mattias nodded. "Two pieces. A katana and a tanto. Both similarly, exquisitely designed and decorated." He stood and removed his vest and shirt, revealing his tattoos. "The handles of both must have a dragon's head that resembles this. And on either side of the base of each blade must have this engraved in tbe metal, exactly as it looks here." He pointed to the phoenix tattoo.

Nodding, Heldora did a few more calculations. "Give me a week to finish it all. Total cost, ten thousand credits. Half now, the rest on delivery. Do we have a deal?"

"Deal" Lily said and pulled her chip out. "Deliver here? Or do you want us to pick it up... some place private?"

Heldora took the chip and ran it. Once the funds were transferred, she handed it back. "With merchandise like this, better to do so in private. On the transfer receipt, you will find my personal contact information, as I now have yours. When your items are ready, I will contact you, we will then meet at a place of your choosing. Are these terms acceptable?"

"Of course." Lilly smiled. She took back her blade and slipped it back into her hair.

Standing, Heldora bowed to them both. "Thank you for your business and the joy of actually creating art. Feel free to continue to relax. You will not be disturbed in here." That said, she left the room, draping the curtain back down, leaving Lily and Mattias alone.

Lily pouted. "Ahh well that was too fast." She stood. "Shall we continue shopping love?"

"Well I'm certainly not done yet. I spied a gun dealer and a cobbler. I could use a new pair of boots." He looked down at hers. "You could too. Plus, a nice pair of heels as well." That look of hunger filled his eyes again.

She laughed. "You have a dirty mind Lover. What would you have done if you had come in here and Heldora and I were naked together, what would you have done?"

A sly smile crept across his face. "I would've joined you, of course."

She laughed and headed for the doorway. "I am sure you would have."

Rising to his feet he caught up to her and lifted the tapestry out of the way, allowing her to go first.

She slipped out and as she passed Heldora she pressed her lips to the woman's, "Thanks" she said to her.

Heldora inhaled sharply. "Any time, Lily." Her eyes were practically ripping Lily's clothes from her body.

Not to be out done, Mattias grabbed the taller woman and pulled her down into a dip, kissing her deeply. He then spun her back up and winked. "You have a great day now." His voice had a bit of a southern twang to it as he spoke.

Flustered by a surprisingly delicious kiss from a man, Heldora suddenly found her appraisal of Mattias growing quickly. She would need to do something very special for this couple. She would want to stay in their good graces.

Lily caressed her cheek and then walked away with a smile.

Once outside, they headed to the cobbler next.

The cobbler was a cantankerous old human male who had been on the planet for years. He grunted at every customer and was not one to take flattery. He looked at the pair of them and scowled. "off landers" he spat.

Mattias looked around and then back at the cobbler. "Uh, doesn't look like you have a large enough local custo.er base to complain about where you get your credits, sir."

"What are ya looking for?" He grunted. "Speak so I can get you what you want."

Stepping up to the stall, Mattias leaned on the counter and replied. "Personally? A beautiful woman who can stimulate me on ever level to spend the rest of my life with, good man." He grinned as he looked at Phoenix. "But as you can see, I already have that in spades. So, I guess we will simply need two new set of boots and a rather sexy set of heels for my woman." Looking back at the grumpy man he added, "What choices would you offer?"

The man grunted and waved them into the ruins behind his table. "Come" he said and stumped off.

Phoenix shrugged and then followed him.

He led them to a covered section of ruin and there, were shelves of shoes. "My inventory" He announced. "Cheaper ones are at the front. More expensive towards the back."

Mattias moved down along the shelves of merchandise. There were boots, shoes and sandals of all shapes, sizes and colors. "See anything you like, Love?"

She took her time and picked out a set of low healed black ankle boots. "These look good."

Looking over, he smiled. "Try em on." He gave her his hand to steady herself with.

She checked the size and slid her boot off and tried one of them. "Good fit. Comfortable. Good materials as well" she said.

"I import the best and there is a creature in the jungle that has great feathers" the man grunted.

Standing back to see Phoenix in the boots, he considered them and then looked back up into her eyes. "Do you like them?"

Phoenix nodded. Turning to the vendor she said "How much?"

"100 credits."

"Reasonable. " she flashed a smile and swapped the boot out for her own boot.

Mattias grinned. He was happy whenever Phoenix was happy. "Now find a pair to wear for me, Dearest."

She looked at his feet for a moment and moved towards the men's section. She looked for a bit. "size?" she called back

Grinning, Mattias called out. "While my size is still a ten and a half wide, what I had meant was a nice pair of shoes that you could wear, for me." He stood there grinning, waiting for Phoenix to return.

She narrowed her gaze and picked up a pair of boots in his normal style and in his size and walked back and handed them to him. "Ha ha." she said. "Try these." Then she moved off towards the female section again.

Mattias grinned after her as he started to try on the new boots. They actually fit better than the ones he was currently wearing. "How much for these, Sir?"

"125" The man grunted. "Your woman has good taste. They last years."

Nodding, Mattias replied. "Done. And yes, she very much does."

Phoenix found a pair of heals and smiled. Holding them in her hand she turned. They had spike like heal and were opened toed.

Looking over, Mattias gave her a very happy grin. "We'll take those as well."

The old man nodded and said "325 all up"

Phoenix nodded and walked over with the two pairs in her hand. "Very reasonable. Remind me to tell the crew Darling." She said to Mattias.

Handing over the credit token as he replied. "Thats a great idea, Dearest." Looking over to the vender, he asked, "Expect our crew to come see you, Sir."

He grunted, took their payment and returned the chip. "Fine, just make sure they can pay"

"You can charge their purchases to the credit info uou have from my chip. They are each allowed one pair of footware. Anything after that and they pay for themselves." Then turning to Phoenix, he said, "Where to next, Beloved?"

"Hmm lets have a look around." She bagged their purchases and smiled at the man. "Thank you Sir" And then they left.

For the next hour, they moved from one vendor to another, making a few purchases here and there, for both the crew and for themselves. As they reached the local pub, Mattias held the door open for Phoenix so they could enter to enjoy a pint of the local brew.

TBC

Lily Kass
Captain
Black watch

&

Mattias Richardson
Head Gunslinger
Black Watch
[NPC Tonelly]