[u][h2][b]On the Edge of Hell [/b][/h2] [/u] continuation of [i][b]The Peculiar Dish[/b][/i] [b]The Serpent's Lair aka the Den[/b], [i]2015 - 9am [/i] [b]Mabel[/b] looked up from wiping down the front counter of the dimly lit bar located inside the inn to see Sloth, someone she cared for deeply walking in. She had known him since he was a boy, since before he began covering his face, she was one of the few who knew his true identity but would never tell. Not even if her life depended on it. The air in the slums was toxic to him but he refused to leave, she knew he had more than enough to move from No Name all together years ago, but also knew he never would, he'd never give up on this place it was his home. "What can I do you for baby boy?" Mabel asked, her eyes beaming at the mysterious young man. "Word on the street someone [b]kicked the bucket[/b] here this morning, just here to check it out." Sloth responded. He had the utmost respect for Mabel, she watched over him when he was young and always made sure he never had to go without food or shelter. Now he took care of the innkeeper in whatever way he could, usually paying for any gossip she'd come across. He watched his mouth around her, well he did his best. "Well word travels [i]fast[/i] around here" she replied flatly, while thinking to herself [i]"Damn, he already knows about [i]that[/i] and it's been less than an hour"[/i] his [b]connections[/b] never failed to amaze her, whoever they were "So what's the deal?" He tossed her a bound heavy leather sack, he was always generous with Mabel. She caught the bulging bag deftly, smiling to herself, he knew she preferred gold and damn did he pay good. "These two outsiders came by yesterday, last night, they seemed like a couple, a man and a woman. The woman seemed uncomfortable to be there but the man seemed .. off, almost tense. She ordered them the Devil's Taste- Sloth let out a chuckle hearing this, "those [b]damn[/b] [i]outsiders[/i]" he muttered, pausing to allow Mabel to finish, realizing he had cut her off "sorry Ma, carry on" "I told them the history of the meal when the man complained about the food, and later on I think I saw him slip some shit into her food while she wasn't looking but I can't be sure, I didn't pay them much mind that cock sucker Benril Mangus was in here causing problems again before they came in and had me fired up." "What the [b]fu-[/b], what was he doing here?" Sloth inquired, catching himself from swearing "He was trying to say I owed him money for some bullshit investment that lost him thousands. Some scammer here juped his dumb ass and he was upset saying it was my fault, I told him to fuck off. " she responded "I can get him taken care of, you just say the word Ma, nobody fu-" Mabel cut him off before he could finish "It's okay baby, I'm a grown woman I can take care of myself" she shuddered at the thought of the gang he ran with, the [b]Soju Natives[/b], the baddest bunch of [b]cold blooded[/b] motherfuckers you[i] never[/i] wanted to meet. He typically kept his hands clean because they did all the dirty work. You didn't want them involved, they were everywhere but nowhere. Their numbers and members were unknown but talks of their doings were spread far and wide, and they were nothing short of horror stories. Benril was nothing more than a low level street thug, he ain't deserve what would happen to him, no one did.. noticing her shift in energy he changed the subject, "So why you serve that [b]garbage[/b] anyway? Fisherman down at the dock was drunk one day having a [b]pissing contest[/b] telling me they're pulling up old bodies that've been dumped and drying them in a warehouse across the way, after some [i]investigation[/i] the shit's true, hell's that about?" Sloth said, sliding into an empty barstool. The Inn was vacant so they were free to talk. "I don't eat the filth but it's the culture around here and hey, it fills my pockets. I don't serve it to the locals, just the outsiders who come here thinking they'll find the [b]Board[/b] and it'll solve all their problems. You want a drink baby?" asked Mabel "The board, I wish they would give that shit a rest, that ain't nothin' to be played wit. Na I'm good Ma, I need to get going anyway. Only reason people come to No Name is to kill somebody or tie up loose ends, and it sounds like some fuck up killed off his wife for god knows what, that's my theory anyway." he spun around in the barstool stood up and began walking off. "Hey Sloth" "Yea Ms Mabel?" "You seen it in ain't you? the[b] Board[/b]?" "Yea I seen it once or twice, and it ain't nothin' to be fuckn' with, aight? I love you Ma, be well, say hey to the folks for me I'm out" Sloth walked out of the inn into the brisk morning air, heading towards the Slums hoping to bump into Benril's bitch ass and get the thought of the [b]Board[/b] out of his head. She resumed her cleaning laughing to herself as he left, " The man killed that woman no doubt, I gave him some wine and after too long the [b]motherfucker[/b] couldn't stop talking about how much money his wife had inherited and he let it slip a couple times he would be going back alone. [b]Fucking prick[/b]." she erased the memory from her mind and Mabel continued her task, thinking about the last thing Sloth said about [i]the Board[/i]. "Be safe out there baby, I know you always are." She said a prayer silently for him. [right]-written by [@tigersloth][/right]