The lights sputtered off and whimpered on as sparks coursed down the faulty wiring and bounced on the walls, forming a humdrum rhythm that would cause someone to resort to banging their head on the wall out of sheer boredom if they were forced to listen to it for hours on end. Evocative of the effect of nails screeching down a blockboard, or noisy chewing, although people enjoying those noises were not unheard of.
The quietness was like a ruling king as it presided over the area, though its long speech laced with addresses and barely hidden contempt towards those that plotted on it was interrupted by the ticking of the watch. Every fifth second, the lady who was clothed exclusively in red's watch emitted a subtle clack that was inaudible to most people.
It was entirely too audible to the three mercenaries however, as their expressions had their own unique ways of showing annoyance. Bie's teeth clacked together as his jaw trembled, strands of hair pulsing inwards as his fine brows settled into a stony arc. Uris's irises were darting about before landing on her upraised greenish tower shield, tracing the carved runes that lined the edges in a bid to distract herself. Ulun's eyes watered from the beams he shot, the barrier blowing the heat back into his line of sight and bashing up against his sclera.
They suffered for what seemed like an eternity, every five seconds resetting some timer the watch possessed as the clattering became more and more prominent to them. Uris even stifled down the urge to leave the passage and ask the woman to turn her watch off, though she felt it would be unwise for her to antagonize their client. Because her mood was so sour that she was most definitely going to antagonize their client, and maybe even heap in some resentment as a bonus deal.
Five pairs of red booted feet, with a pair that had white stripes stand vertically were leading the way. As they sauntered over, each carrying scientists that range from brown hues to ruddy tinges interrupted the irritating sputtering and ticking by introducing the pitter patter of feet to the mix. Bie withdrew a stone blade as they passed him, ready to make a move at any time as he pointed the tip towards the ground, ready to lunge from the alleyway if need be.
"Domingo Corjian. You are quite poignant, no? It is earlier than the arranged date..." the woman trailed off as any hint of friendliness she had with the members of Hook and Shield were buried in a grave somewhere, her voice thickening even further with a hint of hostility lying underneath.
"Aimee. A good scientist remains on time, always. Imagine if someone started a vital experiment, and when they ordered their aide they responded, oh...five seconds late. You do like the number five, don't you?" The man in the white striped, red shoes and a similar lab coat spread out his hands on either side, making grand unfurling movements as he talked. A cheery smile was worn by his face like a mask, never fluctuating even the slightest.
"Speak of that again and watch when I inject you with fifty cc's of Fify Gas and make you watch as I cut your organs into pieces, Corjian." Her voice snapped, sending the imprint of an angry frown composed entirely out of teeth along her face before it disappeared, the scientists behind reaching for their laser pistols. Domingo spread out a hand, stopping their efforts, but his cheery smile had become downright maniacal as he made a small bow, with his left hand held to his chest.
"A thousand apologies, Aimee! Here, let me count them! One, two, three...ah, f*ck. One thousanddd~" His head was upraised as he sought for eye contact, his own gaze glued to the visor affixed to Aimee's face. She simply held her lips together before wagging a finger over as Domingo took steps, still in his bowing position.
"Why did they even let you out of the asylum," she said before emitting a small sigh, shaking her head as the eccentric man did not even once attempt to escape his pose, tripping over onto the ground with a thud. He then laid on his stomach while propping up his chin with the palms of his hands, his chestnut bangs carrying some red pebbles that plopped back down onto the ground.
"I'm a genius who can count to five, that's probably why, escapee? Now let's see what's in the case, hm? Hm? Gak!" Aimee brought her foot down onto Domingo's back stomping down five times for good measure before grinding her heel along his spine. The five properly dressed scientists winced in pain, though they made no movements to help their leader as he held a thumbs up pointed towards the sky.
Crack, crrck, CAK! His spine bent before shattering, the bone shards smashing against the internal walls of flesh that were the insides of his body. He stood there limp for five minutes as his spine fixed itself, deliberately slowing the process just so it would take exactly five minutes to heal, not a second more and not a second less. A victorious smile flashed upon his handsome, yet crazed countenance, before he pushed himself back to his feet and waved his hand at Aimee.
"Well helllloooooo there, cherry blossom! You've got a weird way of handshaking this man with the Shans, who's going to be paying you in gold bands! Sick, a rhyme!" He pumped his arms and then fully extended his right arm aiming a peace sign towards the sky as he tilted his spine back and forth. The scientist's had extremely frightened expressions as they stepped back thrice, one muttering under his breath. Something about 'rhymes, oh god no,' 'I'm not ready to die," and muffled little whimpers.
Domingo's neck audibly cracked as it committed a full spiral, turning five hundred and forty degrees before landing on the huddled scientists. He dashed towards them before slipped under one's upraised arms, a cheery smile stretching up to his ears after he did so. He appeared right beside the furthest scientist, who clasped a briefcase in her trembling hands at a moment's notice, pushing her forward towards the unbothered Aimee.
"Hi hi! Ho ho! You, old lady, have got to go go go! Delliiiiver the briefcase to our client, or or, I can remove your head instead?" The woman's lips were quibbling as her teeth chattered, before she slowed down her steps and let Domingo push her along as he took large and wacky steps sidewards. Somehow, his movements didn't affect her form at all as she drew a complete straight line, the scientists offering a small applause with sweat flowing down the sides of their heads.
They let out meek little hi hi's along with Domingo while the poor lady forced herself to smile, the looming man that was around ten centimeters taller than Ulun joyously stepping backwards, forwards, and sidewards before he crouched down low, emulating walking down a flight of stairs as he then walked under the woman's arms.
The woman's frail body exploded as he completed his second step, as he had passed her arms once before during the day. The scent of blood and excrement distinguished themselves in the air as he arrived right in front of Aimee, red briefcase with white straps in hand.
"It's just business, pal." His voice lacked the cheery up and downs he had before as it became monotone, the smile in his eyes fading away for a second before reappearing once again. He held out his hand, looking to receive a handshake from Aimee before they completed the transaction.