Four swirling ionized portals. Spirals breathing red waves made of unrefined ether, each portal stabilized with carbon polymer cylinder gate with bronze mana-folded runes. At the centre is a Pub with four entrances, each a bright blue door. Inside people cheer as Ajax walks in.
"Looking good!" A blushing beauty, with a bountiful dress, says to Ajax. He waves at her she isn't a regular as far as he can tell.
A wolf whistle comes from the top floor another patron lifts her glass and winks at him. Ajax smiles at her she has no front teeth.
His boss Mr Cele, is a dark-skinned, Venda harder than the apocalypse. He is the image of professionalism and poise. Dressed in the old world, black and white with a bowtie he looks out of place surrounded by tattered clothes and further tattered people.
"Melanie, get back here now!" says Mrs Cele in the office. In his six months here Ajax has maybe seen her once. As he always does he greets the granite bar top by wiping it down. He arranges his glasses to be in the proper order and for the next few hours appraises everyman woman and pet that comes into the pub.
"I thought there'd be a few more hunters around," says a grizzly voice. Ajax nearly drops the glass he is wiping down. The man is sitting in front of him yet until he spoke Ajax hadn't seen him.
Ajax scans the white breaded man, with the red eyes and a gold tooth. He is wearing a slick outfit. Ajax thinks the man is probably a thief of some kind. The appraisal reveals nothing, no small window with basic information and potential of the man. Just question marks. Not wanting to show his failure Ajax leans over the counter pretending not to have heard the man.
"I said, thought there would be a few more hunters about tonight."
Ajax nods trying again and again, still nothing, "not on Friday nights they probably at the hunter club Ecchigo. It's in town you might have to catch a cab at this time." says Ajax
"No no, shit I can't do that you maybe know if any of these bums who used to be hunters. I really only need an extra pair of hands for carrying and lookout." says the old man.
Ajax smiles another job for Valerie, "My friend will be here later if you are willing to wait, she has some pretty hectic PTSD but her talent is a spatial zone as long as its not a higher D vortex she will be okay."
The man rubs his beard, little white hairs falling onto Ajax's bar top. "Then why is not she already working, why would she need someone like you to find a job for her."
Ajax rubs down the bar with a cold and damp cloth, his first thought is to defend himself so he does. "What do you someone like me?" It's not that Ajax wants to be called out as a disabled person, but he hopes that not all people care about his leg. Hunters are very good at spotting faults in people otherwise they would all be dead.
"Well shit son, if you don't know then too bad but I will let you know you are very weak. its a shame about your leg since you have a strong body." says the man spilling the nutshells on the bar even some of the shells falling to the fall.
Ajax looks at him trying to think how to explain," She cant hunt, provide support or even be a lookout dude. She will abandon you if she catches a hint of danger. She doesn't trust anyone anymore. Me and a few others have earned her trust over the years." He is trying to make seem like they are part of a commune. Communes protect their members and have been known to give hunters issues.
"Now ain't that just an itch on my asshole..." says the old man rubbing his chin. Pulling his hairs out as he does.
"I can help..." Ajax says
"Help how exactly son?" says the old he's eyes burning with a dim imperceptible light.
"She won't leave me. You said you need just someone to carry. I can carry her or at least support her enough to not slow you down. And I will lookout for free." says Ajax he is not lying, if he was a better person he would help Valerie overcome her Limbo.
"You got a goddam deal son, pour me another while we wait for that gem of yours." says the old man Ajax pours him a rather fancy bottle of Mazen Gold a beer better than mead in Ajax's humble opinion. The brutish old man down the golden beer in almost one unrefined gulp. Ajax takes out his phone sends Val a message and wipes down the counter. Then he goes back to practicing his new skill.
Valerie walks in around three am, she looks beauty and goes behind the bar to give Ajax a hug. She stays longer taking advantages of him like she always does. She looks at him feeling him up through his clothes. She is really enjoying it today she does this until the old man who is now smoking his pipe.
"Fela this must be the radiant flower you were speaking of earlier" says the old man a smokey plum coming his pipe.
"Yeah this is ---" says Ajax. Valerie interrupts him from going any further.
"This woman can speak for herself, my name is Valerie or vale. I don't appreciate being called a flower no matter the radiance. I'm here to work please try be professional." Says Valerie being direct is the best defense she is tired of unwanted advances.
"No offense intended darl...uhm...Val just some friendly banter." Says the Old Man the astmosphere a little tense.
"Alright as long as you keep you that kind of talk away from we will get along just fine thank you." Says Valerie being hit on by every Thabo, Dingani or Harry who thinks a little charm and Hunter badge qualifies themselves to her body is exhausting. She hugs Ajax again his body is steadier than before.
Ajax clicks on to something," Sir how rude of me I don't think I asked you your name. Seeing as how we are going to be working together proper introduction are in order." The pair stop their small squabble and take out their adventure card.
The old man introduces himself,"My name is Neo, I'm a ranked C Hunter I'm a knight." Neo like people in their sixties who are hunters are no longer suffering from some of the adverse affects of old age. The most famous senior Hunter is Babayoga at 98 years old and still an active Hunter.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Valerie a rank B Hunter dark magician." Her card has a big red block over her rank. It tells other hunters that she is no longer the Hunter she use to be. Neo can't help but shake his head.
"I'm Ajax a rank F Tamer, I don't have any pets or experience. " Ajax is feeling very flustered and blurted out the wrong things but at least Neo already knows about him so it should be okay. They each tap on each other's cards and a small golden mana band appears on each of their wrists. This is the party band.
"Hooray, now that's all settled how much longer before your shift ends I want get this down with it a simply fetch quest for me after all." Says Neo he is keeping an eye of Vale who hasn't left Ajax side.
"Oh I have been done did I not say, we were just waiting for Val." Says Ajax he quit already this job Mr Cele allowed to tend bar to kill time. Neo looks a little bit annoyed.
"Little...Val and Ajax let's set off then. As you now know I have been like a pig in the mud. Time to get feed now." Says Neo.
Ajax and Vale head to Mr Cele. He is an active manager so he is always walking around the pub. When new hunters work together sometimes precaution must be taken. Ajax doesn't plan to taken advantage a simply display of responsibility should do it. They both make sure to leave copies of their Hunter I.D's with Mr Cele. This little act should keep them safe. Mr Cele even makes sure to be seen doing this. Several nosey customers are paying attention to the Ajax and Vale. Some scoff when they see their injuries, the murmurs start again and the pointing of fingers. Many believe that a disabled Hunter should not be allowed to hunt at all since if they die it us usually seen the Association Fault. Once this is done Ajax thanks Mr Cele they hug and then join Neo again and make their way the Northern Portal. This is a mid range D vortex that should have some low strength monsters.