Formatting code for BkIVCh5
======Book IV Chapter 5: Bad Luck Brothers======
===[[Gier]], [[SDreamsong South Dreamsong]]===
[[Gabriel]] dropped his fare into the waiting hand of the carriage driver before climbing out onto the sidewalk.
Lips drawn tight, he strode at a brisk pace down the busy street, glancing over his shoulder at the sound of passing footsteps-- just to be safe.
Around the corner, the sound of lively jazz music swelled from within a little bar with a single lit sign that flickered dimmer and brighter as a gentle breeze blew.
With a soft sigh, Gabe paused for a moment to adjust his cravat and lean onto his walking stick as he gathered his wits about him.
Something small skittered out from an alley a few paces away, and he practically flung himself into midair.
//"GYAAAAAAH!"//
A moment's panicked observation revealed a lone gierkett which ignored him as it hunted about for a scrap to eat.
With one more glance around the street for good measure, he pulled open the [[Emery Emery Lounge's]] front door and slipped in. The heady scent of fragrant cigars and herbal cigarettes tickled his nose, and the jazz band's music thundered mercilessly through the floorboards and against his eardrums.
An instrumental, he noticed-- were they even here? A sudden shout eased his worries, but new ones quickly arose.
"Hey! Hey, Gabe! I see you over there! C'mere!"
A hand reached out from the seemingly endless cluster of populated tables and waved him over. Quietly, Gabe obliged, squeezing and dodging his way through the crush of patrons and lurking chimaera-- to finally be plucked and dragged into a seat by his leering brother.
"About time. What took you? Siddown. Drink! ... and gimme yer bag," [[Hans]] added with a grin, plonking a heavy mug of beer down in front of the scientist with one hand, holding the other out expectantly.
"What? No, I'll keep that, actually. And, um... I had a bit of an incident on the way over. Oh... hello, [[Hilda]]."
Finally getting a hold of his nerves, Gabe realized Hans wasn't alone at the table; his singing partner (and long-time subject of unrequited adoration) peered at him for a moment before offering a reserved smile. "Hello, Gabriel."
"An incident? Another one?" Hans rose an eyebrow. "It's a fluke you're still alive and kicking, you know that? Maybe you aught to retire early. You're set for life already, aren't you, with all that... [[SilentRose Rose]] nonsense." Hans shook his head. "Anyway, you got something for me?"
"Retire? Hans, I //just// got my official license a little while ago. It's not like you sign up and they drown you in money just for showing up. Besides, what's the deal with //you?// You're the big singer, I should be harassing you for handouts, don't you think?"
"It's not like that," Hilda began with a little sigh. "We work ourselves sick out here, and for nothing much. We got food and a place to stay, but what is that? You're better off than him," she said, eyeing Hans accusingly.
"Woah, woah! You didn't have to say it like that," Hans sulked. "Anyway, yeah. It's pretty rough. We sing, we dance, sure, but we make a pittance on it. So, really. //Cough up, already.//"
Gabriel pressed a hand to his forehead; he could smell the booze on Hans's breath, as always.
His older brother may have had a point-- he had been in the music business for several years now, and while he was quite popular with the people of Gier, he was far from world-renowned or even known, and Hans clearly yearned for stardom.
On the other hand, Gabe was little-enthused to fund his brother's apparent drinking habit. He was in no mood for an argument in the middle of the Lounge tonight, however; quietly, he pulled his wallet and removed several notes, sliding them across the table.
They were snatched up almost as soon as they had touched the polished wood.
"See, see? I knew you'd understand, Gabe. Thanks for helping your family out. S'good having someone you can count on, isn't it?"
"It sure is, Hans," Gabe replied dryly.
----
Next Chapter: [[BkIVCh6 Book IV Chapter VI]]
----
Category: [[BookIV Book IV]] | [[Story]]
===[[Gier]], [[SDreamsong South Dreamsong]]===
[[Gabriel]] dropped his fare into the waiting hand of the carriage driver before climbing out onto the sidewalk.
Lips drawn tight, he strode at a brisk pace down the busy street, glancing over his shoulder at the sound of passing footsteps-- just to be safe.
Around the corner, the sound of lively jazz music swelled from within a little bar with a single lit sign that flickered dimmer and brighter as a gentle breeze blew.
With a soft sigh, Gabe paused for a moment to adjust his cravat and lean onto his walking stick as he gathered his wits about him.
Something small skittered out from an alley a few paces away, and he practically flung himself into midair.
//"GYAAAAAAH!"//
A moment's panicked observation revealed a lone gierkett which ignored him as it hunted about for a scrap to eat.
With one more glance around the street for good measure, he pulled open the [[Emery Emery Lounge's]] front door and slipped in. The heady scent of fragrant cigars and herbal cigarettes tickled his nose, and the jazz band's music thundered mercilessly through the floorboards and against his eardrums.
An instrumental, he noticed-- were they even here? A sudden shout eased his worries, but new ones quickly arose.
"Hey! Hey, Gabe! I see you over there! C'mere!"
A hand reached out from the seemingly endless cluster of populated tables and waved him over. Quietly, Gabe obliged, squeezing and dodging his way through the crush of patrons and lurking chimaera-- to finally be plucked and dragged into a seat by his leering brother.
"About time. What took you? Siddown. Drink! ... and gimme yer bag," [[Hans]] added with a grin, plonking a heavy mug of beer down in front of the scientist with one hand, holding the other out expectantly.
"What? No, I'll keep that, actually. And, um... I had a bit of an incident on the way over. Oh... hello, [[Hilda]]."
Finally getting a hold of his nerves, Gabe realized Hans wasn't alone at the table; his singing partner (and long-time subject of unrequited adoration) peered at him for a moment before offering a reserved smile. "Hello, Gabriel."
"An incident? Another one?" Hans rose an eyebrow. "It's a fluke you're still alive and kicking, you know that? Maybe you aught to retire early. You're set for life already, aren't you, with all that... [[SilentRose Rose]] nonsense." Hans shook his head. "Anyway, you got something for me?"
"Retire? Hans, I //just// got my official license a little while ago. It's not like you sign up and they drown you in money just for showing up. Besides, what's the deal with //you?// You're the big singer, I should be harassing you for handouts, don't you think?"
"It's not like that," Hilda began with a little sigh. "We work ourselves sick out here, and for nothing much. We got food and a place to stay, but what is that? You're better off than him," she said, eyeing Hans accusingly.
"Woah, woah! You didn't have to say it like that," Hans sulked. "Anyway, yeah. It's pretty rough. We sing, we dance, sure, but we make a pittance on it. So, really. //Cough up, already.//"
Gabriel pressed a hand to his forehead; he could smell the booze on Hans's breath, as always.
His older brother may have had a point-- he had been in the music business for several years now, and while he was quite popular with the people of Gier, he was far from world-renowned or even known, and Hans clearly yearned for stardom.
On the other hand, Gabe was little-enthused to fund his brother's apparent drinking habit. He was in no mood for an argument in the middle of the Lounge tonight, however; quietly, he pulled his wallet and removed several notes, sliding them across the table.
They were snatched up almost as soon as they had touched the polished wood.
"See, see? I knew you'd understand, Gabe. Thanks for helping your family out. S'good having someone you can count on, isn't it?"
"It sure is, Hans," Gabe replied dryly.
----
Next Chapter: [[BkIVCh6 Book IV Chapter VI]]
----
Category: [[BookIV Book IV]] | [[Story]]
