open Nothing personal, it's just business...

[nx9100 1,013]

He smiled, "I could pass on country myself," Ennex replied.  "But I definitely want to add something like this to our new establish....establishment."  He trailed off, the effects of his previous drinks still in his system.  "But enough business talk!  We're here to enjoy ourselves, right?"  Leading the others over to the bar, he studied the bottles.  "Hmmm.... what do I want?"  Waving a hoof to the bartender, "your best martini, sir.  Shaken, not stirred, if you don't mind."  Turning to his companions, he smiled again.  "I know, bit of a cliche, but how could I resist?"

 

(sorry for the delay!  last week was a bit crazy, lol)

[Gloomfury 243]

@@nx9100,

 

Malachi chuckled as he walked up next to Ennex He looked towards the bartender." You heard him Frankie. " The bartender nod and got to make it. "Right away, Mr. Semi. And of course, everything is on the house." Frank said as she placed the martini in front of Ennex and dropped an olive in the glass.

[Yoshi89 5,293]

@@Gloomfury, @@nx9100,

 

"I think I'll just have a rum and coke," Refund ordered, looking uncertainly at his wife who just downed her Merlot.

 

"C'mon," Ruby encouraged him. "You gotta live a little, Reefie. Loosen up!" She grabbed him by the tie and stared at him with bedroom eyes. "Make me young again, let's dance!"

 

"You know where to find us," Refund told Ennex and Malachi.

[nx9100 1,013]

Watching the couple head out to the dance floor, Ennex smiled as he sipped his martini.  "Now, isn't that cute," he said with a grin, "I get the feeling they don't go out very often.  Looks like Ruby is milking this night for all its worth."  He took another drink from his glass, and turned to Malachi.  "How about you?  Ever had anything like that?" he asked, nodding at the dancing couple...

[Gloomfury 243]

@@nx9100,

 

"Sadly no. But I'd like to one day.  I may be a mob boss whose done his fair shear of 'dirty work', but that don't make me emotionless. And I'm sure the dark side doesn't only have stallions in it." He asked for a straight whiskey and took a sip of it. "Speaking of witch, where did your lovely right hand mare go?" He said while looking around for Sakuya.

Edited December 30, 2014 by Gloomfury

[Yoshi89 5,293]

@@Gloomfury, @@nx9100,

 

The middle-aged couple danced on, not caring if other ponies watched or made comments about them. Refund also could care less if Ruby stepped over his hooves or if they were out of sync with the music. They were there to have fun nonetheless, even if their night to shine was missing a few light bulbs.

 

"Have I told you how much I love you?" Ruby whispered.

 

"These aren't my ears, honey." Refund chuckled, red in the face. "They're my lips."

 

"Oh, well in that case..." Ruby said before pulling him into a kiss.

[nx9100 1,013]

Watching the happy couple dancing the night away, Ennex smiled, before replying to Malachi.  "Sakuya?  We left her back at the Scratch Shack with the others."  Sipping his glass, he looked around the room, well aware that all the drinking was starting to affect him.  Going to be a rough morning, he thought to himself.  "I'd watch out, if I was you.  She's got a lightning-quick temper, and tends to hold a grudge for some time..."

[Gloomfury 243]

@@nx9100,

 

Malachi just laughs. "I can tell. But she interests. I never met a mare like her before. Plus I love a mare who can holder her own like a stallion.  Plus I'm use to ponies with bad tempers. Hell, the stallion with the most explosive anger I know is part of my crew. I told you about him. And when he gets angry, man, he's like the embodyment of wrath. So I think I can handle your girl. By any chance do you know anything I can try that might get me on her good side at least a little?"

[nx9100 1,013]

"Her good side?" Ennex asked with a smirk.  "I'd say good luck to that.  Not that she doesn't have one, it just doesn't show very often."  Normally, he wouldn't offer this much information about somepony close to him, but the drinking was taking its toll, and, like it or not, he wasn't really aware about how much he was sharing with the other.  "Sakuya tries not to let anypony get too close.  Goes back to what happened to her back when, well, you know," he pointed to the top of his head. 

[Gloomfury 243]

@@nx9100,

 

Malachi's eyebrows went op. "Oooh. I think I get why now. But that don't seem that hard to get past. we've all have our little secrets and whatnot." He sighed and rubbed his hat a little. "Do you know of anything that she might like? Flowers, candy... booze?" He said with a shrug.

[nx9100 1,013]

"Hmm," he thought, as the alcohol-induced haze in his mind clouded his thoughts.  "I'm not sure, really.  She's been in the darker side of this business since the day she got her cutie-mark, and hasn't really bothered with such things."  He searched his memory.  "Wait, what was I thinking-" a pause "-a yes, Sakuya and booze.  No, she's not the biggest drinker.  In fact, has been on my case about wasting to many bits drinking myself."  He sighed, starred into his martini, before downing it in one gulp.  "It's been a rough few months, and I'm not ashamed to admit if not for her helping with running the business, I'd probably have collapsed by now."  Maybe I should stop drinking, he thought, realizing that he was talking too much again.  Ennex was a talkative drunk, which, for a pony with secrets like his, could always lead to trouble.  Especially when discussing a certain somepony.  He starred into his now empty glass, trying to decide on ordering another or not...

[Gloomfury 243]

@@nx9100,

 

Malachi hummed as he thought things over. "I guess I'll have to wing it then. Fire some shots in the dark till I hit something." He drank the rest of his whiskey and sat back in his chair. "I bet she's gonna be a tough nut to crack. Guess I'll just have to be myself." He ordered one more drink and downed it in one gulp.  

[Yoshi89 5,293]

@@nx9100, @@Gloomfury,

 

At the end of one of the songs, Refund and Ruby returned to the bar area where a pair of drinks waited for them. Ruby's mane frizzed out but the seven glasses of wine in her system numbed any care she had about it.

 

"That was fun," she reflected, sipping her drink.

 

"Guess you're going to have no problem attracting our crowd," Refund commented to Ennex and Malchi as he took a swig of his own.

[nx9100 1,013]

"I think you're right," Ennex replied, his words slightly slurred, "young couples looking for a night on the town are a great target audience for us."  Finally making up his mind, he waved for another martini, and turned (slowly, as not to fall off the bar stool) to Malachi.  "Wait, weren't we talking about something?"

 

----

 

In the meantime, Sakuya had left the dance club.  The others were still there, but she decided to leave, not wanting to get to close to anypony.  It was a fear she'd carried since loosing her adoptive mother.  Only Ennex was allowed to be close, but that due to everything he'd done for her since taking her in.  She sighed.  If only things were slightly different, like if he had at least a small spec of light in him.  It had taken her a few years to accept it, but he boss/friend was the darkest pony she'd ever known.  And with her history, that was saying alot.

 

She wandered the streets, not really heading anywhere.  What few lowlifes there were eyed her, but kept their distance.  They all recognized that broken-heart cutie mark, and new who she worked for.  Such was Ennex's reputation in the city.  

 

"You shouldn't be out here," came a deep, (russian) accented voice from behind her.  Years of experience allowed to not to jump.  "What do you want Ravage?" she asked.  The pitch-black stallion stepped around to face her.

 

"The cargo for your delivery tomorrow is ready," he said.

 

"That's it?" she asked, puzzled, "You came out here to tell me that?"
 

"No."  His face was like stone.  "I am doing my job," he turned to face a building named Gomorrah, "keeping an eye on our employer.  It is you, who found me."

 

"Whatever."  She sighed again.  "I better go check on him.  Somepony has to make sure he gets back in one piece."  She started towards the building.  

 

"A job you handle well."  She paused, and snapped her head back to glare at him.  But Ravage just starred back with that empty, yet commanding, look of his.  Deciding to let his comment pass, she turned back and headed across the street to the club...

[Gloomfury 243]

@@nx9100,@@Yoshi89,

 

 Malachi looked towards Ennex. After a second or two he starts laugh. "Haha, we were. But don't worry about it, it wasn't about anything important. But I think you've had enough, bud.  Drink anymore and your hangover's gonna hit you twice as hard." He took Ennex's glass and placed it on the table.  Then he put an arm around his shoulder and started leading him to the door slowly. 

 

Then he turned around to face Refund and Ruby. "Till we meet again you two. And don't worry, I'll have some of my boys help you home." Then he let out a whistle. " Ragazzi!" Then about four strange looking ponies seemingly came out of now where. Malachi pointed at the couple. "Assicurarsi che tornano a casa in sicurezza." He said in a stern tone. Each one gave a response. 

 

"They'll take you home when you're ready to go. Have a good night." He then left the building with Ennex leaning against him.

 

 

((The first thing he said was 'boys' in Italian. Then he said 'Make sure they get home safely'. Just the clarify))

[nx9100 1,013]

As Sakuya crossed the street, she noticed the two stallions leaving the club.  Great, she thought, a frown forming on her face, him again.  Taking a deep breath, she approached the pair.  "It seems you two have been having fun," she commented, trying to maintain a friendly demeanor.  "And you've overdone it again," she said to her boss.  "I keep warning you about this."

 

"What can I say?" he slurred with a grin, "I was having fun!"

 

"Too much fun, from the looks of it..."  she muttered.

[Yoshi89 5,293]

@@nx9100,

 

Refund jumped slightly at Sakuya entering in but Ruby just slowly turned on her stool.

 

"We suuuure have," Ruby said, fumbling to put her empty glass down. "Whaddyawant? We're just having a goo *hic* good time."

 

Refund turned to Sakuya, making sure his wife and Ennex didn't notice and rolled his eyes.

 

"I think we should be going n—OW!" Refund yelped as his wife pulled on his collar.

 

"Reefie, baby," she whispered. "I think I'm gonna hurl."

 

Trying his hardest not to panic, Refund lifted his wife off the stool and onto all fours. "Is there a bathroom here?" he asked Ennex and Sakuya.

[Gloomfury 243]

@@nx9100, 

 

Malachi chuckled. "Oh cut him some slack, Sakuya. We were celebrating. Maybe you should cut lose sometimes. If you keep working and never take time to slowly down and have a little fun you might end up clinging to a bottle of whiskey while sitting on the floor of your bedroom with the lights off,  in your forties, contemplating suicide. I've seen it happen before. It's not pretty."

[nx9100 1,013]

"I think there is a bathroom back there," Sakuya replied to Refund, before turning back to Malachi.  "And don't lecture me about cutting loose.  He's got important responsibilities, and night after night of this kind of behavior isn't helping our business.  Imagine his reputation if an important client happened to see him like this!"  Her anger was growing somehow, and it surprised her.  Sakuya always had a temper, but for some reason, being around this half-demon pony seemed to bring it out fast and full force.  How is he affecting me like this? she thought...

 

Meanwhile, Ennex was just hanging onto Malachi, just listening to the conversation.  While drunk off his flank, his mind was still fully aware of what was going on, and it amused him...

[Yoshi89 5,293]

@@nx9100, @@Gloomfury,

 

"Thanks," Refund said, helping his wife over to one of the doors out back. Open opening the door and forcing himself and Ruby inside, a mare screamed.

 

"There's a very good reason why I'm here," Refund defended his actions, bringing his wife inside a stall. He got there just in time and Ruby made sure she was completely finished before she picked her head out of the toilet.

 

"I feel better," Ruby moaned, although her clammy face said otherwise.

[Gloomfury 243]

@@nx9100, 

 

Malachi sighed. "I guess you have a point. But we all got responsibilities. I have to look after my crew, split the pay evenly, look for jobs for us. Hell, one day I'm going to be don. And that's a real big responsibility. But I'm still gonna find time to have some fun. All work and no play turns a powerful pony into a tyrant. But you're right, keep drinking every day you start to lose your brain cells like crazy. That's why I mostly drink till I'm buzzed." 

 

Malachi then started taking Ennex to his place. "Lets get this lightweight to bed." He called to Sakuya.

[nx9100 1,013]

Stepping over to help Malachi carry her drunken boss, Sakuya draped one of Ennex's front legs over her solder, letting the other hang onto Malachi.  "This might take a while," she said, "perhaps I should call a-"

 

Cutting her off mid-word, a coach pulled by two stallions pulled up in front of them.  "They will take him home," came a deep, accented voice from behind her.  She sighed, not needing to turn around to see who it was.  "What are you doing, Ravage?"

 

The black-clad stallion stepped around them and into view.  "My job, as always," he replied, sparing a glance at Malachi.  "He cannot be seen being carried through the streets like this.  Not if he wants to be respected and feared."  Then, with a nod at the half-demon, he turned and melted back into the shadows...

 

Sakuya rolled her eyes.  "Sorry about that," she said.  "Ravage tends to be over-dramatic.  But at least the carriage will make this easier."  With the other's help, they managed to load the drunken Ennex inside.  

 

"Thanks for...... for the help," he said to Malachi.  "Drop by tomorr...tomorrow, and we can talk more about....  about that project we were talking about."  He turned and smiled at Sakuya.  "See you tonight, maybe?" he asked with a wink. 

 

Scowling, she slammed the door shut.  "Get him out of here!" she ordered, and the two stallions took off with the carriage down the street....

 

------------------------------------

 

Trying to keep himself upright in the bouncing ride, Ennex sighed to himself.  Can't believe I asked that, he thought.  Must be more drunk then I realized....

[Gloomfury 243]

@@nx9100,

 

"It's alright." He chuckled.  "At least this day wasn't boring. Made a pretty great deal with an interesting stallion, met a few good ponies and a pretty mare. So all and all it was a good day." He smiled and looked at Sakuya. "I know your strong mare you can take care of herself. But would you mind if I walked you home?"

[Yoshi89 5,293]

@@nx9100, @@Gloomfury,

 

Refund wrapped one of his forelegs around his wife and ushered her out of the mares' room. They looked around and found the usual party had diminished so they went to whoever was left. He sighed when he noticed Ennex was missing then turned to Sakuya and Malachi. "We'd better get going, too," he told them. "I guess Ennex isn't faring any better."

[nx9100 1,013]

"He's going to be regretful in the morning, I can promise that," Sakuya replied to Refund.  I still can't believe he suggested THAT right in front of Malachi! she thought to herself.  And after we stopped the rumors, too!  "I guess I will see you tomorrow," she said, and  offering a smile to Ruby.  "I hope you had fun tonight!"

 

After bidding the couple farewell, she turned back to Malachi.  "Sure, if you want to," she said, her voice quiet.  Well, alcohol seems to make HIM more tolerable.  As long as he doesn't try anything stupid like before.  A small smile crept on her face, and she tried to hide it.  Cause if he does, I'll break his legs!