Open Season

Javik hated waiting, he never had the patience for it except when moving in for the kill. Nearly twenty years of running meant he never had time to just lie low and wait. So he waited. And waited. And waited. He downed a glass of brandy as a newcomer walked through the door. A taller woman, either brunette or redhead - he couldn't tell in the light - with a fair number of freckles on her face. He expected her to go to the bar, order a drink, dine and chatter like all the customers do, and then go about her merry way. What he did not expect was for her to beeline straight to him with a crumpled note in her hand. Upon closer inspection, she seemed like a capable type. Though he wondered how she'd hold up with the mission at hand.

Can I help you, Miss...? Javik started as she asked about the job. Yeah, job's still open. Been waiting close to an hour now but no biters 'til you came along. Javik chuckled with his gruff, raspy voice. He waved his hand out, offering her a seat at the table as he sat up straight. He pulled out a note of his own - a detailed drawing of the man residing somewhere in the village. The ma n had longer hair, down to his shoulders, and a scruffle beard. No mustache. Blue eyes, judging by the color in the picture. At the bottom of the bounty note, it reads "Wanted, Dead or Alive" along with a lump sum of gold. The amount for bringing the target in alive was more than dead, as per usual. It was for this reason Javik preferred not to kill his targets unless absolutely necessary. The bidders always paid more for a fresh body and not a corpse.

Here's the deal. This man - memorize the face, name's irrelevant - has a bounty out for his head. Now, I don't know why he's wanted, or what he's done - nor do I care. In this line of business, it rarely matters. We have our mark. The bounty says dead or alive, but we'll be bringing him in warm. Pays more gold, and I'm sure that's what we both want. If everything goes smoothly, we'll split the reward an even fifty-fifty. I'm being generous on this one. You ever done bounty work before? Javik asked, his hands interlaced with elbows on the table.