The local gave Jack a blank look and that 'I don't want to deal with this' shrug that Jack recognised from crowded spaceports everywhere. Even a place that seemed like a paradise wasn't much different underneath.
"Asshole," Jack muttered under his breath, because you didn't say that where it could be heard unless you were looking to get shivved or knew you couldn't be. Jack didn't know whether he could be. Something about coming here had messed with his lasers and all his defensive gear--maybe it was the moonstones, maybe it was the tiny eridium bar he'd shoved into his pocket just before the attack, maybe it was both.
"Hey," said one of the locals, and Jack spun and grinned.
"Hey. Have you seen--"
"Yep," said the local--what were they, 'kedan'?--and Jack saw his smile and didn't like it. Really didn't like it. This kedan had the scrawny, slightly ratty look Jack knew. He was better fed and better looking than most of the scavs and bandits Jack had ever seen, but the look in the eyes was the same: clinical, judging how much he could get out of Jack's hide.
The people knew it, too. The street hadn't exactly been crowded before thanks to the festival, or even a thoroughfare, but people weren't in a rush to stay nearby. Stupid idiots who owned the city hadn't even made sure to leave some law enforcement behind before running off to get their jollies? That was just great.
Jack shifted his stance, cursing the whole 'no working weapons or shields' thing. Not even his Digi-Jacks were working. "Hey, talk louder, don't let me stop you."
"How much is she worth to you?" asked the bandit, and Jack caught someone moving quickly out of the corner of his eye--not toward him, but someone else in the crowd.
no subject
"Asshole," Jack muttered under his breath, because you didn't say that where it could be heard unless you were looking to get shivved or knew you couldn't be. Jack didn't know whether he could be. Something about coming here had messed with his lasers and all his defensive gear--maybe it was the moonstones, maybe it was the tiny eridium bar he'd shoved into his pocket just before the attack, maybe it was both.
"Hey," said one of the locals, and Jack spun and grinned.
"Hey. Have you seen--"
"Yep," said the local--what were they, 'kedan'?--and Jack saw his smile and didn't like it. Really didn't like it. This kedan had the scrawny, slightly ratty look Jack knew. He was better fed and better looking than most of the scavs and bandits Jack had ever seen, but the look in the eyes was the same: clinical, judging how much he could get out of Jack's hide.
The people knew it, too. The street hadn't exactly been crowded before thanks to the festival, or even a thoroughfare, but people weren't in a rush to stay nearby. Stupid idiots who owned the city hadn't even made sure to leave some law enforcement behind before running off to get their jollies? That was just great.
Jack shifted his stance, cursing the whole 'no working weapons or shields' thing. Not even his Digi-Jacks were working. "Hey, talk louder, don't let me stop you."
"How much is she worth to you?" asked the bandit, and Jack caught someone moving quickly out of the corner of his eye--not toward him, but someone else in the crowd.