Looking To Help (Red)

[Phoebe Fisher]

303 tags: red mercer ★★★ BY PEBBLE OF GS

In the dead of night, with nothing but her clothes, a lantern and a small pistol strapped to her side, Phoebe wondered through the slums of a town that sat just on the edge of Central City. She didn't dare wear her uniform on this side of town. Who knew what the townsfolk thought of the military here. All she knew was that someone needed help. Several days ago a few men whom she worked with spoke of a young Ishvalan-looking man asking for help. Curious, Phoebe inquired about it, but the men didn't know all that much. All they gave her was the name of a tavern, it's location and a nickname. Scream. Curiosity getting the better of her, Phoebe stupidly ventured out in hopes of helping the person. When she came to her destination, Phoebe entered the tavern and found it almost empty. There were a few men drinking their worries away, and a lone man at the piano, playing a slow yet fitting tune. Clearing her throat she walked over to the barkeep. "Excuse me. I'm looking for someone by the name of 'Scream'?" The barkeep frowned for a moment and then shook his head, "... Neva' 'erd of 'im. Sorry love." Returning the frown, Phoebe sighed and pulled up a chair as she took out her cigarettes. "You don't mind do you?" she asked, placing one of the sticks in her mouth. "Knock ya' self out love." the barkeep shrugged, "Jus' as long as ya order a drink." Sighing a little as she lit her cigarette, she frowned at the barkeep. "Do you have any good reds?" The barkeep chuckled and poured her a glass of red wine, "It's as good as you're gonna get." With that she handed over some coins and stared at her glass before drinking it. Even if she couldn't find who she was looking for, she wasn't going to let her evening go to waste!

 

[Red Mercer]

The tavern was so very lifted, in high spirits it seemed. Not many people visited it anymore, and it was a very crooked place. The fact that a woman had came in piqued his interest. Quickly, Red tried to eavesdrop from a distance, she hadn't even noticed him. Once she made it over to the counter, she asked for him by his nickname. One he seemed to be very proud of, but why? She did not look the type, and she very much so seemed to be a very dignified woman.

For a moment, Red pitied her. She had walked into this place probably looking for a good time, and she was only going to regret every second of it. Looking over the counter, he slowly made his way next to her as she ordered her drink. The man complied, and as he slid it to her, Red took the drink instead. "You're not very intelligent, are you?" his voice was harsh, as he threw the glass over his shoulder. The piano came to a halt as the glass shattered a few feet behind him.

Everyone in the room turned to stare at them both, the few that knew who Red was seemed to be off in the distance paying no mind to the scene at hand. "Coming into this tavern, ordering a drink from this barkeep?" his eyes gloomily glanced over the barkeep as he turned his attention back at her. "Then went to drink the wine? Not knowing what at all this man had done to it?" he circled around her, moving to the other side of her.

"Oi, you know if someone comes looking for me, military or not you point me out. I told you I don't play that old school front bullshit," he said, as he rubbed his hand over the counter, blue sparks emitting from his hand as some of the counter turned to useless ash. "Now, give this woman some RED wine." his voice this time was much darker, and he seemed to stare strongly at the man. Red's jacket covered his tattoo, and the fur lined hood was drawn over his head for the extra atmospheric touch.

The man nodded, and immediately poured another drink then sliding it to her once more. The rest of the patrons seemed to have forgotten or at least been scared away from the ordeal. It went back to the usual ruckus as he slid down in the seat next to her. "Oi, you don't seem the type to be in here. I just saved your wallet, and possibly your life back there. So, why are you here? And looking for me, as well? Not very good idea, I'd say," he said, knowing full well that the wine was probably loaded. Being a woman, who knows what would have happened to her? She clearly had no real world experience.