Archive of Our Own ^beta

A taller and bulkier hellhound was standing by the docks with a small book and pen, marking barrels of rum as they were rolled onto the docks. With how powerful his sense of smell was, he was the best at telling what was the best quality of alcohol that would be shipped in. Anyone tried to screw them over, he could tell and knock them flat on their asses. When you’re given a job and a place to sleep, you do your damndest to earn it.

Especially when you want to see someone you love again.

“This the last barrel?” Vortex asked, looking at the sailor with a neutral expression.

“Yep. 8 barrels like I said,” the lizard demon nodded, holding out his hand. “Payment, if ya please?”

Vortex said nothing as he walked to the latest barrel, shaking slightly before turning to the sailor with narrowed eyes. “You must think we’re fucking stupid. Did you think we wouldn’t notice you skimping off the top?” he questioned, a noticeable growl in his voice.

“Wh-What are you talking about?” the lizard laughed nervously, yelping when the much larger hellhound lifted him up by his collar.

“Our arrangement was 8 full barrels,” he snarled, his fur bristling from irritation. “Shorting us would be a very poor choice in judgement.”

“I told ya! I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about!” the smaller demon snapped, gulping when he saw two imps rolling a ninth barrel down from his ship.

“Looks like this one was tryin’ ta scam Wally again!” Sallie called.

“How stupid do you think we are?” Barbie scoffed, giving the tinier demon a sneer. “After the last shipment, Wally was getting suspicious. Keep this up and we won't be in need of your services anymore.”

“Tch! You can’t prove–!”

*POP*

The cork on top of the new barrel was taken out, revealing it was filled to the brim with rum. The two imp mercenaries and bodyguard Hellhound looked at the sailor with unimpressed stares. Vortex turned the slimy sailor around and gave him a swift kick to the ass, sending him flying back onto his ship. The lizard groaned as he stood up, looking back at the irritated workers of Wally’s Tavern.

“If you don’t want your boss losin’ a client, you’ll quit short-changing us on our stock,” Vortex warned, throwing him his money. He then turned to the imp mercenaries and picked up two barrels. “Welp, better get these to the tavern. Wally’s waiting.”

“And my dad,” Barbie joked.

They loaded up the barrels into a wagon and made their way away from the docks. Vortex was steering the horses while Barbie and Sallie May made sure their stock was safe and sound. The older of the two imps gave the hellhound a tired look, knowing he felt the same. “This has been the third time they’ve tried to short us with our stock. And it isn’t just booze either. Even food has been something they’re trying to rip us off on,” Vortex ranted, his ears flicking in annoyance.

“Good thing we’re around to catch those fuckers,” Sallie chimed in.

Barbie hopped onto the seat next to Vortex, letting out a sigh. “Honestly I wish we could just tail those idiots and see what’s going on. It’d give us something to do other than just going after small potato targets,” she sighed dramatically.

“Aw don’t sweat it, hun. We’ll get those bigger targets,” Sallie reassured her.

“She’s right,” Vortex nodded. “Besides, if business booms here, there’s a chance for more wanted posters to be put up at the tavern.”

“That’s true,” she mused before looking up at the larger demon. “So what’s your story anyway? You ain’t from around here, are ya?”

“Nah…but this is a good home for me,” the taller demon replied. “Good home, good food, good company…and I know she’ll be able to find me here.”

The two imp women smiled knowingly, seeing that look in his eye. Sometimes, when they’re getting ready for bed at the tavern, they’ll see Vortex writing letters to his special lady. They were surprised he wasn’t an officer or gunner on the ship she was stationed on but he had a bit of an embarrassing secret; he got seasick really badly. He didn’t want to worry her by constantly throwing up over the deck. Besides, Beelzebub could handle herself; Wally’s Tavern needed more protection.

(...)

“Lady Mayday it is always a pleasure whenever ya grace us with your presence,” Wally smiled, watching a pink mer-succubus swim around in her custom tank.

“Honestly it’s better if I’m on the surface inland,” Verosika told him, leaning out over the glass. “The currents are looking a bit…sketchy this evening. Maybe more demons will come here to hear me sing.”

“They’ll be entranced by you, my dear,” the smaller imp winked.

“At least you have working ears,” she chuckled before a pout crossed her face. “Unlike that fool of a pirate I couldn’t ensnare…who would’ve thought being tone deaf would keep me from my prize.”

“Aw you’re one in a million,” Wally told her, perking up when he heard a wagon pull up outside. “I say I say, they’re back!” he grinned, running up to open the door. “How’d it go? Everything go smoothly?”

“You might wanna consider a new supplier,” Vortex advised, carrying in two barrels of rum.

Wally’s smile faltered as he let out a sigh. “They tried to short us again?” At the hellhound’s nod, the young imp ran a hand through his white hair. “I know good alcohol ain’t easy to come by these days but we’re tryin’ to provide a good service here.”

Wally moved aside the tables and chairs to allow Vortex, Barbie, and Sallie May to roll the rest of the barrels into the back. This should last them some time while Wally tries to find a new place to purchase booze. Making their own was out of the question without a real expert in booze making. Their resident barfly and former fisherman Cash Buckzo knew good booze from bad–honestly not caring what he drank–but even he couldn’t help actually making their own to serve on tap.

As Wally and Sallie put the last chairs back in place, the wind outside made the window shutters start to clatter. “Shit…you might actually get more of a crowd in here tonight,” the younger imp woman commented. “No one would be crazy enough to go out in this weather.”

“I hope it’ll clear up by tomorrow,” Barbie grunted, wiping her brow. “If we’re going to journey North to find that creepy Burnie bastard, we’ll need clear skies for our travels.”

“Ya gonna be goin’ away already?”

Barbie turned to see her father stumbling down the stairs, immediately running to his side to help him down the stairs. “Hey we gotta make money somehow, dad,” Barbie reasoned, helping him to a table.

“Yeah but I miss ya when ya leave,” Cash groaned. “Fizzy’s off travelin’ on that fancy-ass boat and who knows where Blitz is. It gets all lonely here with just these three to talk to.”

“Hey!” Vortex, Verosika, and Wally pouted.

“I know but I don’t want you getting hurt,” Barbie reasoned, lightly touching his arm. “If our sources are right, we should be able to find him and turn his ass in for a pretty handsome sum.”

“These small potato targets will eventually increase our bounty huntin’ status,” Sallie added, looking around the tavern fondly. “Always nice to have a home to come back to.”

“Well…just be careful out there, okay?” Cash requested, looking at his daughter pleadingly. “I can’t…I can’t lose you too…”

Barbie wrapped an arm around the older imp, giving him a squeeze. “Hey I learned all about kicking ass from you, remember? No scummy pirate wannabe is gonna get the drop on us,” she promised, making him laugh.

“And that’s why I’m so damned proud of you,” he told her, looking at Sallie pointedly. “You take care of her, ya hear me?”

“I ain’t about to let some two-bit creeps hurt her,” Sallie May reassured him, taking her hand. “We make a helluva team.”

“I say how about we crack open some rum and relax before we open up shop for the night,” Wally decided, pulling out some mugs.

The small group cheered with Vortex setting up the tap for the rum. He just finished attaching the spigot when he heard a thud in the back. “Hm?” he muttered before tapping Wally’s shoulder. The younger imp looked up at the tall Hellhound, noticing his pensive look and the clattering noises. That could only mean one thing.

Burglars.

Knowing the mercenary gals could handle themselves, Wally and Vortex quietly made their way to the back of the storage room, feeling the cold air from outside hitting their faces. This made the owner of the tavern worried since he always made sure that window was locked. As they quietly crept closer, they heard two voices speaking in hushed tones. One was a Wrathian accented imp and the other was a dopey sounding shark demon.

“Ya found it yet?” the grumpier one questioned.

“It’s hard to see without good lighting,” the shark groaned.

“HEY!”

The two intruders jumped, seeing Wally and Vortex glaring at them. “How the fuck did you get in here?” Wally questioned, his hand twitching by his rifle.

“Word of advice, potion boy,” Striker chuckled, grabbing a nearby vial. “Ya might wanna get your locks on your windows checked. Rust’ll make ‘em easy to crack through.”

“I got them!” Chaz cheered, grabbing the potions with a smile.

“Oh no you don’t!” Vortex growled, lunging for the two intruders. Unfortunately, Chaz’s tail knocked right into a wall of potions, creating a cloud of smoke. Wally and Vortex immediately shut their eyes, trying to feel around for the two pirates but they slipped away. The smoke was a good enough cover for them to slip out into the tavern and escape out the front door while everyone else went to check on the disturbance.

“Suckers,” Striker smirked, the duo escaping into the night.

[END]