The hustler

[Lovely]

March 20, 2009


Not all fun and games, this was one of the times that work was just work and he was tying up loose ends, making arrangements of the simple variety, checking in and following up with a newly placed recruit. Billboards flashed overhead in blaring colors and multiple languages, each trying to overshadow the other, making him and the other pedestrians appear ant-like on the scrolling walkways. Kiosks lined the street as densely as the telescreens overhead, the shouts of the vendors filling the air along with the smells and sights of their offerings. He stopped at a fruit vendor and flashed a paper bill in trade for a couple of apples.

Luke strolled down the narrow street, his eyes looking around for his next target, scam or lift. As always his eyes and ears took in all he could, watching a woman to one side, an elderly man to the other. He watched a man flash paper money and a smile touched his lips. Paper money was something he could use... not many people carried it..prefering to exchange credits. Luke made his way towards the man. watching for the opprotunity to strike.

He waved off the look of the vendor who gave him a dismayed look, unable to offer change, but eager for the paper herself. She uttered something that sounded like a bit of japanese and english mixed with something else, nodding a thanks as he gave her the bill and walked, eating one apple and pocketing the other.

Luke followed closely, watching the way the man moved, inching himself closer. Hoping the man would move to the right. Luke ducked into an alley and cut through, coming out just in front of Galen. He looked in a hurry and sort of stumbled into the street and into Galen. Luke moved past with a muttered sorry and weaved his way through the crowd. A few blocks down and a little breathless Luke had Galen's watch and the contents of his left pockets, in his jacket. He ducked into a run down building and headed to a room on the second floor.

Galen muttered an apology for not seeing the boy as he brushed past and ran into him. He watched the boy as he stumbled, looking far too 'smooth' in his stumbling. He was headed the same direction and kept an eye on him a moment. Work was work afterall.. always looking for the gifted and talented in the street. He was late and he required props for this meeting, and as he patted his jacket he realized that the majority of his 'prop' was now gone, finding only an apple where there had been cash and... "Damnit..." He sighed and looked to where the boy had gone. He trained his eyes on the crowd ahead, but saw nothing useful. Breaking into a trot, he headed along to find him, seeing the alley. Likely he'd gone here, but which door?

Luke ran up the stairs, the building was like many in the 'down town'...run down, mostly empty, filthy. But hey it was a place for him and Rayen to sleep and stay out of sight of the constant nightly patrols. Luke munched on the soybar thing he had pulled off the lady next to 'paper money' guy. He tossed the wrapper carlessly out the window, letting it join the other trash that was littered about.

He sighed and looked about, the movement catching the periphery of his vision. He looked up to see the foil filter down on the slight upward breeze in the alley driven by the exhaust fans from the coolers that lined the narrow space. A subtle shadow moved from the window and he locked on, counting windows up and looking for a way in. Could have been anyone, but only one way to find out.

Luke rested on the turned over crate and chewed on the semi hard bar with a look of obvious distaste. But hey it was food, Ray wasn't home and as always he would worry till she got back. Most likely going out to find her if she did not return soon. Luke was considerate and saved half the 'dusty' bar for her, not knowing what else they might be able to scrounge. He pulled an apple he had skaffed from the stand money man had been at and set it on the table. Rayen would get that as well, he always gave her more, and the better of whatever he could scrounge, find, or steal.

He found the door to be propped with wads of paper in the strikeplate that kept it from latching and locking completely... whoever or whatever came in here intended to come and go as needed.. that was a good start, he grinned. He looked up the stairs and in the well, seeing only the clutter of misuse and random graffiti. The hall stunk of urine, booze and sterno, churning his stomach as he took to the stairs. He stifled a gag at whatever damp substance brushed his hand on the rail, wiping his hand on his jeans and depositing it in his pocket for the rest of the journey up. This wasn't entirely unlike some of his favorite haunts from not too long ago, but he shuddered at the thought of ever going back. The right floor and now to the door, he listened, trying the knob on the door silently.

[Lovely]

Luke having a decent day at the 'office' was in fixin up mode. He and Ray were by no means trash or nasty kids, not like some of the vagrants that lived on the streets. Luke had been gathering empty wooden crates for the past few days and whatever else he could find to fix them up right. He wanted Ray to be as happy as he could make her and wanted the place to feel a bit like 'home' -if it could, since they would be here awhile... as long as things held 'steady'. Luke had found some ratty blankets and a bedroll. He had even managed to find a broom, though in ill repair, he used it to push the piles of 'crap' from the back room. A bucket of scuzzy water and a dirty rag sat near the door to the back room. Luke held out his hand, directing the crates against one wall, forming a bed about the size of a twin. The crates would be hard, but thats where the bed roll and blankets came in. Luke laid them out, the blankets first to provide a bit of softness between the bedroll and the crates. Then the bedroll and a small clean pillow he had stolen out of an open window closer to uptown. He grabbed Ray's teddy and set it on the pillow, smoothing everything out. "There ya go...." He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and stepped back. Grabbing some more blankets and jumping up to hang from the rafters as he fixed the blanket to divide the room. His back still to the door and concentrating, using his gift to help hold the blankets in place as he secured them.

He stood with the door propped open enough to view in for several moments. Once the boy was in the rafters, Galen announced himself quietly, "Like what you've done with the place... a certain... I dunno... urban chic? You do know there's a two-thousand credit fine for littering, right?" He watched the expression as he held up the wrapper the boy had tossed through the window.

Luke's head jerked and his eyes narrowed slightly. His hand shot out, pointed at Galen, a moment later the wrapper flew from Galen's hand. Something so light, moved with speed into Luke's hand. Shoving it into his mouth, he swallowed it with effort and gasped a little. "Don't know what you're talking about.." He swung his legs down and hung by his arms a minute, then slowly lowered himself to the floor.

First his gun and now the little wrapper. He looked at his hand and chuckled, rubbing his thumb against his empty fingers, "Guess I'm losing my touch." He looked out down the hall to see if the 'other' that resided here was in sight. He saw no one and closed the door behind himself. "Relax.. not an officer and not likely to tell anyone you're here. Just came to collect back something of mine, hm?" He pointed at the padding in the boy's pocket. "I know where you might be able to come across more of that if you're interested. And it's nothing to do with addictions or vices. You like to help people or just help yourself?"

Luke shook his head and reached into his pocket, he tossed what he had back to Galen. Holding out his hand he made it float in front of the man so he could collect it, intead of it showering the floor. "I do what I have to do... gotta eat you know." Luke shrugged."Heard that line before... then it's a little bam bam for some cash." Luke chuckled, pulling out a ciggarette. "So what do you got? Guy or girl? I service both... though not my first choice, I'll do it if the money is good." He motioned to the table, getting down to business.

"Neither... no 'bam bam' and regrets in the morning.. not that sort anyhow. How many you know can do what you do?" He took the cash from the air, obviously unphased by the ability.

Luke scoffed. "Regrets... who cares if the trick regrets it... I get the money.. I'm ok." He shrugged again. "I dunno... plenty of mutants around... hiding, starving, dying... want a beer? It's kinda warm..." He stood up and walked toward a couple of crates he had stacked on top of each other, on their sides...some dented cans in them.

He held up a hand and shook his head, partly to say 'no thanks', but also in the disappointment he felt for the exploitation the boy was willing to go through to survive. "Doesn't have to be... not that I expect you to believe me."

"Doesn't have to be what?" Luke opened a can and took a long sip from it. Wiping his lip and moving back to the table, he searched out his lighter. Grumbling as he couldn't seem to find it.

[Lovely]

A battered matchbook produced itself in Galen's hand from his pocket. A brief moment with the flash of a pen, he scribbled something in the cover and tossed it to the boy. "Old ways still hold their value... offers behind closed doors... deals on a handshake.. a man's word and his honor being worth as much as a fully loaded cred-stick... cryptic messages in a used book of matches." He smiled, a glint in his eye. "What if I said that that matchbook held the promise of a marvelous future for you and... your.. girlfriend? ....brother? ...sister? Inviting him or her as well... you might like what you find."

Luke caught the book and lit his stick, taking a deep puff before returning his gaze to Galen. "So say this is a lucky book of matches... why the hell would you give it to me, after I just cleaned you out? Ok I left ya apple but still.." He puffed the stick again, leaning on two legs in the chair.

Galen laughed, "Because you're good at what you do. The people on the other end of that number would be quite interested in your work... for more than what was in my pocket." He took the stack out and tossed half of it back on the table. "You need it.. buy some food for the two of you." He stood and tossed the apple to him with a lightning reflex and no warning. "I was you six years ago.."

Luke caught the apple and tossed it back, he picked up the money and handed it back to Galen. "Thanks... we don't take hand outs from someone who feels they need to have a pity party." He was a tall young man and stood six feet. "We 'earn' what we have."

"You did earn it and it's not pity.. it's an advance so you don't starve in the next three days. There's a party Thursday night. Your little talent just earned you an invitation, a suit, a shave and a ride in. Call that number tomorrow and speak with Badger.. he'll fill you in."

He eyed Galen, wondering what tricks he was up to and what he wanted. Luke shrugged and tucked the matchbook in his pocket. "Sure I'll just whip out my celly and dial him up.." He waved around the room. "No lights, no heat, no phone, no hot tub..."

"No worries... dial on a credit line and reverse it... name's Irish.. he'll take the call."

Luke chuckled. "Yeah ok....thanks Irish." He held up the money. "And thanks for dinner." Shoving the cash in his pocket he nodded towards Irish. "So do I tell them it's you or do I say my name?"

"You do what you do," he shrugged and grinned. "You're not a stranger to the type of work, I'm certain, but you'll be better appreciated for it." He looked at the teddy bear sitting proudly on the 'bed'. "Let Badger know if she'll be coming with you. He'll get her set up as well. You appear to be a solid team. Don't let that change." He stepped to the door and opened it. "You have a name?"

"She aint going near any of you till I know what the shit is..." His voice was cool. "And even then.... she doesn't 'do' like I do... ever."

He humphed in consideration of the boy's arrangement. He had a good backbone, a solid concept of responsibility and duty to whatever family he had, probably an overwhelming loyalty to those who kept the faith. He looked at him and summed him up, "You're quite the hustler, aren't you? Smooth, smart, sharp... quick and cautious. Hustler it is... suits you."

Luke cocked an eyebrow. "Who me?" He sniffed. "Sure if you say so..." He kinda grinned, liking the tag.

"If the shoe fits, lad... looking forward to seeing you again," he said nodding a farewell with a smirk before heading out the door.