Chapter Text
It was a calm evening at the Coyote. Many of the locals would come in for a taste of Mama Welles’ cooking after a long day of work, sweat and blood. Mostly blood, to be honest.
Resident worm and wannabe fixer, Kirk was doing biz upstairs, as per usual. Julio never liked him much, much less since he had threatened Pepe over some loan. Pepe was a good guy, family man to the core and a fellow bartender at the Coyote. Kirk bit off more than he can chew, tho. The Valentinos look out for their community, member or not.
Julio was entertaining the idea of setting Kirk in his place when a towering figure appeared in the doorway. He soon realized who that was and his face lit up.
„Yooo, topman! What's the word on the streets?” He called out to him in the most obnoxious way possible.
„Pipe down, vato. Fix me a Compa, then we can talk.” The bulky man answered with a smile.
„One Compa de Heywood coming right up!”
Julio has been tending the bar in the Coyote for a few months now and he could say the Compa was his specialty.
All right, J. Let’s do some preem art!
First, add 2 oz of aged tequila with a dash of soy sauce and then 4 oz of lime juice to a chilled highball glass filled with ice. Second, you top it with the finest black spiced rum, which should float beautifully if you use a spoon. Garnish with slices of jalapeño and a lime slice. BOOM! Ready to serve!
„Soooo~, you bought it?” Julio asked grinning as he was setting down the drink in front of the man.
„Your very own M-10AF Lexington, fully automatic, 9mm rounds, 21 per mag.” He answered as he was pulling said gun from the inner pocket of his jacket. „Hey, it’s nothing big, but it is reliable. It should serve you well for your first few gigs.”
„Come ooon, hermano. This is like-… mall cop shit.” Julio yammered while holding the weapon like it was something nasty.
„Don’t get carried away, kid. You are as green as this fucking jalapeño.” The man lectured him with a stern voice as he was taking a bite from said jalapeño. „Either this or you can buy yourself your own iron. If you can afford it, that is.”
„Riight…” Julio answered sheepishly as he dragged his new weapon and the few spare mags off from the counter to put it away. „You know, I was thinking. And. …Since you are like …the best solo I know. I was wondering if you could show me the ropes, right? Maybe do a few gigs toge-
Suddenly a mocking voice interrupted their conversation that Julio did not recognize. „Yo, mall cop! Do I pour myself a drink or what?”
A woman of small stature with pale, white skin was sitting at the other end of the counter. Her pink cyberoptics were glowing bright in the dimly lit room.
„I see you got a customer. Gonna go talk to Ma in the office.” The other man said, and with a wave of his hand he disappeared in the doorway.
„Sorry, didn’t see you there. What can I get you?” Julio greeted her with a subtle smile.
The woman slightly squinted at the words „didn’t see you there” but didn’t comment on it. „Gimme one that muscleman had over there.” She placed her order.
„Yeaa, can I see a SINcard first?” Julio requested with an open palm.
„Wh-.... You are not IDing me right now, are you?” She asked in disbelief. If eyes could kill, Julio would be zeroed by now. „I bet I even got a few years on you, boyscout.”
After getting the silent treatment for a few seconds she gave in. „Choom, gonks got lead for less.” She muttered under her breath as she handed her SINcard over regardless, as the law abiding citizen that she is.
Julio plugged the card into his neuroport and the data about his odd customer showed up on his cyberoptics. „I guess you are one year too late.” Julio commented with a smug smirk.
Rebecca Holmström. Huh. Got a nice ring to it.
„Fucker…” She grumbled. „Stop gawking and give my shit back.”
„’Tis a Compa for the kind customer then.” Julio said heartily as the SINcard popped out from his port with a satisfying click and he handed it back. He then turned away to fetch the ingredients.
Silence followed, only the clinking of glass could be heard accompanied by the low hum of the neon above the counter. It was nearing closing time, so only a few guests lingered. One worker was sleeping at one of the tables, while three young Valentinos were playing pool in the adjacent room.
Julio was preparing the drink with great care, as he usually does. Halfway, he noticed the sound of wriggling from behind his back. Almost as someone was trying their damnest to catch a glimpse of what they actually ordered. A task far from easy kneeling on a rotating barstool.
„It is not too bad, actually.” She broke the silence.
„What isn’t?” The statement caught Julio off guard.
„The iron you got from your choom. The Lexington. Low maintenance, big mag, perfect for popping scavs.” She replied, but the answer somehow felt open ended.
„But…?” He enquired further as he turned and placed her drink on the counter.
„Hahaaa~” Her voice booming with sudden enthusiasm. „Good thing you asked! But…!”
She reached under her oversized jacket and whipped out two handguns, slamming them on the countertop and spilling some of her Compa de Heywood in the process.
„… I use these cute babies!” She switched to her best impression of a telemarketer. „I present to you~, kind sir. The M-76e Omaha brought to you by Militech International!”
„Nova! Is this the one with the electromag rail, right?” The guns piqued his interest so much that he reached for one of them instinctively. „Can I see th-?”
„And that’s a fuck no, choom.” Julio suddenly found his outstretched hand back on the countertop, held by an another, smaller hand. Julio’s face was burning red from the firm slap that was just planted on it. The girl’s pink optics were fixated on his face. „No touching, just looking. You should probably write that down.”
„I guess I should.” What were you thinking? Reaching for a stranger’s gun like that? You gonk.
“I like the enthusiasm tho, boyscout.” Her expression softened. “And you are right, this is a tech pistol with an electromagnetic rail system. Charge this baby up to max and you can pierce through most standard issue chrome.”
“Sounds preem. Can’t wait to have one of mine.” Julio answered with a friendly grin.
They both admired the pistols in silence for a few seconds, appreciating the small gun banter they just shared this long evening.
“Your ice is melting.” He said, pointing at her cocktail on the counter.
“ShitshitSHIT, mi Compa!” As she quickly went to take a sip.