The Lives of Adeline

Asher

Azazel made his way through one of the more notorious bars in Rahu City, making his way up to the bartender.

"...Azazel— or Asher as you keep making the staff call you," the bartender spoke at Azazel Asher.

"Ah, dear Hendrix! How have you been?" Asher asked as he sat down on one of the barstools, and Hendrix slid an old fashioned on the rocks, Asher's usual. Asher's voice was ever so slightly southern, though mostly used his movie accent. Hendrix had dark, black skin, and he was tall, around the same height as Asher, and taller than him when Asher wasn't wearing his typical boots which had a slight heel on them.

"As well as a bartender serving a supposed hitman can be," Hendrix held his hand out for payment, already knowing that Asher wasn't going to be sticking around long. "Cough it up," he didn't even stutter, and Asher let out a fake gasp of offense.

"Oh Hendrix! I'm offended you'd think I wouldn't pay you," Asher slid over a twenty, before attempting to slip away– though Hendrix grabbed the back of Asher's overcoat.

"Nuh-uh, you already know what I'm talkin' 'bout. Don't act a fool now," Hendrix held his hand out once more, and Asher gave him his signature, uncanny smile, calm eyes.

"Ah, how could I forget!" He handed Hendrix a file, consisting of fake ID's, Security numbers, passports and visas, all with Hendrix's faces on them. "Pray tell, may I ask what you're using them for this time?" Asher already knew what they were for, Hendrix worked as a private hitman. Hendrix looked over the file, checking to make sure everything was there.

"You bet a rat's ass I'm not!" Hendrix huffed, looking up at Asher with a slight glare, "especially since you always come in here lookin' like a whole different person every week, i swear if you didn't have so much shit over me, i would've ratted ya out by now," a lie, a bad one even by the average bystanders standards.

Next to the two of them, someone started to make a line of some sort of white, iridescent powder, before snorting it up. "Hey! No snorting Stardust at the bar! Go out back to do that shit," Hendrix went off to deal with that, leaving Asher alone with his thoughts.

"Is this seat taken?" Asher looked up to see a man with blond hair pulled into a ponytail. He already knew this wasn't one of the bar regulars, he knew everyone here by name, first and last, though there was something familiar about him. Asher only vaguely motioned to the seat, not speaking a word. "So," the man started again, "you own the place?" He sounded almost a little awkward.

Asher took a sip of his drink, and vaguely motioned over to Hendrix. He couldn't risk speaking yet, and seeing how much the man was sweating, he figured he'd give himself up before Asher would give in himself.

"So... he owns the place?" The man continued, getting more nervous by the second. He went quiet, as Asher continued to not respond. "...Azazel, was it?" he started, a little more awkwardly.

Asher Azazel got a look of recognition in his eyes. "Ah! You must be William!" Azazel switched fully into his movie accent, "Apologies for my silence, I don't often speak to people I don't recognize!" he held his hand out to shake, and noticed how William's shoulders relaxed.

"Oh– no worries, I completely get it, just a random stranger walking up to someone, it seems weird to anyone!" William shook Azazel's hand, firmly yet friendly.

"Yes, I suppose so, hm?" he chuckled, picking up his drink, but paused. He put it back down. "Though I assume you weren't here for friendly conversation, hm?"

William gave a slight sigh, "ah... sadly not." he lowered his voice, leaning in towards Azazel, "you have something we want, and i'm not willing to let you take advantage of Vermon to get it."

Azazel laughed, "Vermin? Im afraid im not acquainted with any such thing," he practically grinned at the offended look on Williams face.

"Not vermin, Vermon!" William had gotten all up in Azazel's face, grabbing onto his shirt.

"I'm not hearing a difference!" Azazel sang, turning to look back at Hendrix with a playful look in his eyes.

Hendrix let out a deep sigh, Before walking up to the two of them. "Is there'a problem o'er here?" he asked, in a vaguely tired and full of Azazel's shit voice.

"Oh Mister Bartender! it seems one of your new patrons has gotten a tad bit out of control," Azazel was kicking his legs back and forth, clearly undisturbed by anything William was doing. William instantly let go of him, Hendrix was not at all a small fry, and was made bartender for a rather obvious reason. He could likely take a man out with one punch. William wasn't weak, he was rather strong himself, but Hendrix? He wasn't messing with him.

"Fine." was all he said, before storming out of the room.

Azazel sat there, satisfied smile still on his face. "You..." Hendrix sighed, and he switched gears to cleaning glasses, "you know dam well you dont need me to get rid of people like em. Ive seen you fight against a gang of mombsters and yet you always make me take care of it," he huffed, though it was lighthearted.

"Oh, how rude of me!" Azazel leaned back towards Hendrix, "i didnt even thank you yet!" he grabbed hendrix's hand, and kissed it, like a gentleman. His lips had lingered for just a split second longer than he ment, but it worked in his favor. "Thank you my knight in shining armor."

Hendrix rolled his eyes, unaware of the pink growing on his own face, "oh shut it, ya know that kinda shit doesn't work on me, ya still have to pay your tab, and tha' twenty from earlier ain't doin it," he tried to sound serious, though a small chuckle escaped his lips.

"Oh don't you fret about that! I should have all the money necessary soon," he waved Hendrix off, before pushing his drink back towards Hendrix, making the other man raise an eyebrow.

"I thought ya liked old fashions," Hendrix said, as he dumped it out.

"Oh, I do! Truly, one of my favorite drinks," Azazel chuckled. "Though i saw that blonde haired fellow put something in it, and i'm not one to be fooled for even a moment."

Hendrix gave a slow nod, "ah, always on your feet, arent ya?" dried the glass, "well, i can make ya anotha if ya wanted?" he offered, though Azazel shook his head.

"Afraid not dear friend, for I've got somewhere to be."