Chapter Text
00:20 Loredas 12 Second Seed 5e201
Marcus glanced back down the alleyway, just to make sure. Ahtar’s reassuring silhouette was just barely visible against the dark gray of the wall. Marcus' uncle had volunteered to stand by for this conversation, so he was close enough to intervene; far enough to not be eavesdropping. And no one noticed Ahtar outside at night unless the big Redguard was standing between them and a light.
“Sure, I do some of that kind of work. Maybe. What kind of job is it?” Marcus didn’t know this guy, but Ahtar’d said the boss had vouched for him, so that was enough.
Dyce explained.
They were in the alley right behind the club; it was cold and damp and smelly; and the wind was gusting hard enough that bits of trash kept scudding by them. Puddles of gods-know-what. Marcus was still dressed in no more than he’d worn for his set and had already cooled down. Goosebumps were rising all over his body. He began to pay more attention to keeping his shoes clean than he was to this guy with his smiles, trying to scam Marcus, maybe.
“I don’t want to be a little bitch here,” Marcus said, with care. “But I’ve run into this situation before. No family court’s gonna care about that shit, how some guy spends his own personal time.”
Dyce shrugged. “It’s what the client wants.”
“Well, I’m not working for some client. If I take this job, I’m working for you. You pay me whether you get paid or not, and it’s going to be a good chunk right up front. I’m not wasting my time otherwise. And I want a lot more information, first.”
“I can have it over to you tomorrow,” promised Dyce. “And once you look it over, maybe we can meet for you to give me an estimate? I do have to walk it by the client.”
Ahtar, Marcus knew, was going to have a fit when he found out what this job involved. And ugh, it would be dull. Still. Money was money.
“Is early-early morning alright?” Marcus asked, testing. “I’m done by four, for sure. Usually I go work out and grab a bite at Pete’s. Say five-thirty?”
Dyce grimaced, but nodded. “I know the place. Oh, hey, before I forget--” he waved a folded bill between his fingers. “That was a really good set.”
Marcus took the money from him without comment, and made it disappear. He opened the fire door, nudged the rock that had been holding it open aside, and swung it shut. As he entered the keycode to re-secure it, he could hear Dyce’s strangled gasp of surprise.
“Just here to make sure you get to your car alright, sir.” Ahtar had put on his congenial-host voice. “Hope you had a good night.”