I jump up, a few teeth roll out of my mouth- I long since grew new ones.
"Ya daft arse! I'll pound ye till kingdom come!...-eh?" I could've sworn we were in some snowstorm covered forests? I'm at a beach now, fully drenched in saltwater and seaweed, a broken chain in one hand and one of my guns in the other. Beach guests seem to have long since abandoned this area, only what looks like a few of those guards from before cast up out of the comfortably cool oceanside accompanied by the blazing summer heat. A few immediately get up to run for their lifes, whilst the rest keeps on the ground - most are moving though.
I do look around. I might actually be in the metropolis I've been looking for. But only a look around will tell me for sure.
I click my right index finger and thumb together, causing a few sparks before they start glow red hot, lighting with myself a cigarette with that heat.
I grab myself one of the shipwrecked guards by the throat. They give me an extreme cliché vibe, purple and metallic colored spandex, high tech helmet and a fancy looking glowing knive. Must've lost the main arm out on high seas-. As of now they barely move at all, but as i pick them up by the neck and remove their hightech helmet, their hysterical eye movements showed the utter horror they feel from looking me in the eye.
"I'll ask onle once, I need t' get t' Derrowback hall, by'e pier. Where's'at!?"
The fella opened his mouth right away, but not a single word dared to leave his mouth.
At that point I get impatient and shake him about. "Hurry up, I said, ye stiff kipper, craven arse-"
The deep wish to strangle that fella for an answer was quickly diminished by the smell of freshly baked pie, filling my nostrils. I look aside as my stomach growls a bit, letting them go. "I'll be out for lunch....If ye're by'e time I get back, ye're a dead man, aight!?"
They kneel on the sand, shaking heavily and watching my every movement, flinching at the slightest irritation.
A moment of Silence-
"I said 'AIGHT!?"
They flinch once more before nodding at me frantically.
"Good.... stay...."
I walk away following the smell of freshly baked pie, I do believe it has a faint scent of black current on it.
The smell leads me through the crowded walkways along the outer town districts, the winds seem exactly right to lead me from afar.
A few crewmates walk up to their scared ally.
One takes her helmet off, revealing a pair of glasses and feline ears.
"Hey, uhm.... are you ok, Fridell? It was quite the rough landing we had...."
Fridell answers in a sign language, pointing out the following.
"I am alright, thanks Kat, but if I take but one step, I think I'm dead!"
Kat looks at the other colleagues surrounding Fridell before speaking aloud.
"Riiiight.....is anyone of you fluent in sign language?"
In the meantime I slender through what looks like a old quarry stone promenade, with many tourist traps, fancy restaurant and day to day shops kept in a rustic scenery.
One of those shops, a café, emits this beloved smell. The cotton Palace. A simple alpine country house with a forged hanging sign, showing a café cup. I can't help but thinking it smiles at me.
It's insides, buzzing with people, feels quite cozy. A jukebox plays some old jazz, whilst the waiter speeds from one table to another. Both hands are fully occupied with tablets filled to the brim with all kinds of slices of sugary enjoyment and beverages.
As filled as that is the display stand, from simple cookies, muffins, cheesecake up to the most intricate types of cream cakes, Estar.....Easter.... Es-ter-há-zy slices, baked Alaska in an extra display, Cardinal slices- the list could go on and on and even then we're not done. Next to the Barista's area, a whole other display is filled with candy of oh so many variants. Hard toffee, chocolates, pralines, chewing gum, jawbrakers, gummiebears, jellybeans, to your hearts' desire. Kids rush in and out, leaving most of their pocket money behind for those delightful treats.
The waiter at that point catches my curious glances and walks past me. His screechingly high voice shakes me out of my reminiscence.
"Ich will be right zere with ju in ein moment!"
I don't know what that attempt was about but blast me this can't possibly be english.
"Aight, I'll be waitin'", I replied with a leaned back expression.
I watch that tiny fella run back into the kitchen with a huge load of dishes, before returning to me.
"Gut day, Sir. We do not have ze tables available at ze moment, ich am sorry, aber may ich offer ju ein spot at ze Kaffee bar?"
His huge smile reaches way past his ears. Dispite his black monocle to the left, i do feel like his gaze burns right through those. All in all he does make a proper look though, despite his hair standing up as if he'd be under constant electrical current. Makes up by about 15% of his size by the way. Standing next to me, he needs to look up like a toddler.
I waddle over to one of the bar stools, readily available.
"Aye, it'll do just fine, lad. Thanks"
The dwarf nods in approvement, handing me the menu.
"Zank ju. Ich will be back for ju in ein bit for jor order."
Not a sec after that he already is back on dishing out.
The Barista, a lanky looking fellow with this everday expression heads over to me and with a tip on his cap greets me.
"Good day, Sir. May I offer you a refreshment? We don't just have our coffees today but also shine with some selfmade lemonades in many variations!"
I growl a bit at all those choices.
"Ya got anything spiked?"
The Barista checks me for a second, before snipping with his right.
"We might just have THE specialty for you sir. A tea, that our boss is most proud of-."
"Aye, 'at'll do nicely. A big cuppa if yer at it, please."
I scratch my chin. The Barista nearly jumps at my reply. "My pleasure sir!"
All the while I can't help but notice someone familiar silently sitting a few stools over, nervously sipping their espresso. I look over to see that secretary from before. She doesn't dare to look at me.
.....
.....
The Barista placed a hot, steaming cup of tea infront of me. "Here you go sir, a so-called 'Hunter's Tea'."
I nodded at him with a smile, but the silence still kept on way after I ordered a pie.
.....
.....
Until it didnt, the secretary finally used her freedom of speech.
"I'm on break. Let me have this please."
I chuckled at that reply.
"Oh, excuuuuse me- looked like I was boutta jump ye, wasn't I. Nah, we're good. Might ask ye for some directions later tho-"
She raised an eyebrow.
"Ask?"
I immediately correct myself. "Demand. Ye lot started that blasted mess, I just wanted a bloody lift."