Jake Russard
Aug 27th, 2008, 04:03:49 PM
The joint was a sleazy one, the kind you always picture when you think of the under belly of society, the down-on-yer-luck type establishment that is stripped away of any frills or any pretense of respectability so that the naked lightbulbs and the smoke-burned linolum floors give the a bare-knuckle impression that you betta be tough if ya wanna sit here.
Well, I was tough. I knew it, just like most the mooks in here knew it, too. In fact, I'd built a reputation just to that specific characteristic. Jason (or Jake, which I preferred ) Russard was tough and you mess with him at your own risk. Welter-wight champ for two years runnin'. In later years, I had to fight in the middle-weights as I lost my girlish figure due to a more successful lifestyle. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Where was I? Oh, right, trouble.
Not that I went lookin' for trouble. I preferred to keep myself to myself, low-profile someone once called it, but I just see it as mindin' my own business. If anyone's got issue with me, we sort it out, in the ring, short and sweet. No need for long drawn out drama's like the matinee holovid crowds always jonesed for. And no fancy dual blasters or vibroblade crap either. You can really tell the measure of a man when he just has his own devices to rely on, and nothin is more tellin' than a one to one with bare fists. Just you, your sweat, your blood and your wits, until they get knocked outta ya. Or til you knock out the other guys. Nope, a man keeps his head down and his nose clear. That's how I liked it. And most people respected that. The ones that didn't, well. You know.
To say that I made my livin' this way is an untruth. Sure, I made some decent creds puttin on a show Friday nights, but I did have a workin' brain somewhere buried under my thick skull and didn't plan on punchin my way to a mortgage and two kids and a mid-life heartattack. I train the other guys some, put them through their paces at the gym here, but that's just a transient affair. My real opportunity hadn't happened yet. In fact, it wouldn't for a few years to come. But, what I can tell you, is that the origin of that opportunity is just about to walk through the door and tap me on the shoulder.
In the meantime, I'll get the barkeep to bring me somethin to wet the whistle. I aint used to doin all this talkin.
"Namana juice, lotta ice, Benjy."
"Comin right up, Jake"
Now Benjy was a nice guy. Fought in the feudal wars of Osiron and has some great stories, though you're a fool if you believe even half of 'em. Good bar tender though, got an ear for anyone and mixes the best Sullust Starbursts in the galaxy - not, that I drink those very often, they're kinda girlie drinks. Benjy is a great believer in the Empire, aren't we all? I keep my politics to myself but admit I'd give my right arm to be one of those TIE fighter pilots. Trouble is, I dont read so well. I mean I can read, but the words jump around sometimes. Try flying a rocket ship with all your intrument readouts doin' the tango on ya. Anyway, my application was rejected on four occasions, the dumb bastards. So now I fight the only way I know how. In the ring.
Rollo's setup was pretty good. He and Benjy go way back, a partnership of old friends. Benjy had the money, but Rollo had the business smarts, thats why the joint's named after him. "Rollo's". Not very original. But they divide the spoils, and the bills, equally. Cant say Rollo had too much smarts, judgin by the state of the place, but its standin aint it? And Im here most every night aint I? Its a bar up top, the ring and the gym in the basement below. Closest thing I got to a home, I spose. Except for my crap apartment, but that's more just a place to sleep.
Benjy places my namana juice on a paper doily. For gods sake. And here comes my destiny now. Only, neither of us know it. And, both of us nearly blow it.
Lucky Im a smart guy, smarter than the other fella anyway. But, you'll see what I mean. Have to admit, my first thought when I saw him was that the guy was a bit of a ponce..
Well, I was tough. I knew it, just like most the mooks in here knew it, too. In fact, I'd built a reputation just to that specific characteristic. Jason (or Jake, which I preferred ) Russard was tough and you mess with him at your own risk. Welter-wight champ for two years runnin'. In later years, I had to fight in the middle-weights as I lost my girlish figure due to a more successful lifestyle. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Where was I? Oh, right, trouble.
Not that I went lookin' for trouble. I preferred to keep myself to myself, low-profile someone once called it, but I just see it as mindin' my own business. If anyone's got issue with me, we sort it out, in the ring, short and sweet. No need for long drawn out drama's like the matinee holovid crowds always jonesed for. And no fancy dual blasters or vibroblade crap either. You can really tell the measure of a man when he just has his own devices to rely on, and nothin is more tellin' than a one to one with bare fists. Just you, your sweat, your blood and your wits, until they get knocked outta ya. Or til you knock out the other guys. Nope, a man keeps his head down and his nose clear. That's how I liked it. And most people respected that. The ones that didn't, well. You know.
To say that I made my livin' this way is an untruth. Sure, I made some decent creds puttin on a show Friday nights, but I did have a workin' brain somewhere buried under my thick skull and didn't plan on punchin my way to a mortgage and two kids and a mid-life heartattack. I train the other guys some, put them through their paces at the gym here, but that's just a transient affair. My real opportunity hadn't happened yet. In fact, it wouldn't for a few years to come. But, what I can tell you, is that the origin of that opportunity is just about to walk through the door and tap me on the shoulder.
In the meantime, I'll get the barkeep to bring me somethin to wet the whistle. I aint used to doin all this talkin.
"Namana juice, lotta ice, Benjy."
"Comin right up, Jake"
Now Benjy was a nice guy. Fought in the feudal wars of Osiron and has some great stories, though you're a fool if you believe even half of 'em. Good bar tender though, got an ear for anyone and mixes the best Sullust Starbursts in the galaxy - not, that I drink those very often, they're kinda girlie drinks. Benjy is a great believer in the Empire, aren't we all? I keep my politics to myself but admit I'd give my right arm to be one of those TIE fighter pilots. Trouble is, I dont read so well. I mean I can read, but the words jump around sometimes. Try flying a rocket ship with all your intrument readouts doin' the tango on ya. Anyway, my application was rejected on four occasions, the dumb bastards. So now I fight the only way I know how. In the ring.
Rollo's setup was pretty good. He and Benjy go way back, a partnership of old friends. Benjy had the money, but Rollo had the business smarts, thats why the joint's named after him. "Rollo's". Not very original. But they divide the spoils, and the bills, equally. Cant say Rollo had too much smarts, judgin by the state of the place, but its standin aint it? And Im here most every night aint I? Its a bar up top, the ring and the gym in the basement below. Closest thing I got to a home, I spose. Except for my crap apartment, but that's more just a place to sleep.
Benjy places my namana juice on a paper doily. For gods sake. And here comes my destiny now. Only, neither of us know it. And, both of us nearly blow it.
Lucky Im a smart guy, smarter than the other fella anyway. But, you'll see what I mean. Have to admit, my first thought when I saw him was that the guy was a bit of a ponce..