claws-for-hire

[claws-for-hire]

Vinnie passes into his room through the door behind the bar without a word, leaving the mess behind with Xiao and Vixen.

Vixen sighs, already beginning to examine the corpse. Not too much blood, a pretty good shot; it won't take too much to get this place cleaned up again. It won't take too much before she can try to coax her brother back out and remind him over and over that she's still here and kicking. She's not sure how much she can do now though, how much her attempts will work.

"Look, Xiao... Don't worry too much about it, okay? Vinnie, he's... a worrier. It's a long story, but it took me years just to convince him I can handle hits of my own. I'll explain it all someday, but you don't have to put too much of yourself into this if you don't think you're ready. I'm capable, he's paranoid. That's all it is." She sighs though as she catches the other demon's eyes, gaze occasionally flicking ever so slightly back to the body between them. "I guess I'll handle the mess since you saved my after-life, though. We'll call it even?"

*Obie walks into a bar he’s never been to before. He thought he could use the change in scenery. There’s not much of a crowd, so he takes a seat at a stool at the bar, behind which works a fox fellow dressed as Fez from That 70s Show.*

Hey, uh, do you happen to have Labatt Blue? I’ll take one, if you do, please. -🐻

@sinner-obie

Vinnie glances up from where he'd been nearly dozing off behind the vacant bar.

"Huh? Oh, sure, let me—" As soon as he can turn around, he spots his sister chugging the very last bottle. "—check... Fuck. Seriously, Vix???"

He glances back up at Obie, pursing his lips. "Well, apparently not. Consider your next hit half-off seeing that my sister here is planning to drink me out of a new customer. But I'll send our errand girl out for some more. She could use the walk, she's getting yappy."

@sinner-obie @sinner-xiao

[claws-for-hire]

"You work here, yeah?" Vinnie snaps back. "We give you a place to stay, put money in your pocket. That makes this a job, and by extension that makes me—"

"—Us?" Vixen attempts, but is waved off immediately.

"—your boss. We die? Guess what, that leaves you with nothing." Vinnie pinches the bridge of his nose, sighing heavily as he walks back towards the bar. "Luckily for you, I can handle my own well enough, but— Vix, cover your ears."

She does not.

"My sister doesn't know how to watch her mouth when it's good for her. I'm not asking you to be an extra merc, but... Having another set of hands on board wouldn't be a bad thing. I'm not... I'm not losing h— anyone on my watch again. Not if I can help it."

Vixen looks as if she's about to protest, but something crosses her expression. Something that can't quite be placed... but something that isn't quite lost to the past, something just buried, perhaps. And it's a fear that's beginning to resurface.

*Obie walks into a bar he’s never been to before. He thought he could use the change in scenery. There’s not much of a crowd, so he takes a seat at a stool at the bar, behind which works a fox fellow dressed as Fez from That 70s Show.*

Hey, uh, do you happen to have Labatt Blue? I’ll take one, if you do, please. -🐻

@sinner-obie

Vinnie glances up from where he'd been nearly dozing off behind the vacant bar.

"Huh? Oh, sure, let me—" As soon as he can turn around, he spots his sister chugging the very last bottle. "—check... Fuck. Seriously, Vix???"

He glances back up at Obie, pursing his lips. "Well, apparently not. Consider your next hit half-off seeing that my sister here is planning to drink me out of a new customer. But I'll send our errand girl out for some more. She could use the walk, she's getting yappy."

@sinner-obie @sinner-xiao

[claws-for-hire]

She can feel her brother starting to reach for her again, but Vixen immediately pushes her way past Vinnie, barreling herself in Xiao's direction. She stops just short of her, though, looking up with a mixed expression that's far from readable. Her brows knit in concern and... something else? Softer, more curious than she's ever found herself before. She holds out her hand, a silent question for the gun to examine for herself.

"This is..." she starts, turning the pistol over, but she's cut off before she can finish.

"We don't have time for this," Vinnie hisses, approaching the body on the ground. He nudges the attempted assassin with the toe of his boot, kicking over one limp, dead limb. "Someone wants us dead, which means this operation is bigger than just the two of us now. If they have their own force, we're going to need one too. It's not just exorcists we have to worry about anymore."

He glances back at Xiao, nodding in a way that feels so unnatural to his usual carefree persona. His eyes narrow, his expression suddenly serious. Protective, maybe? Focused? Worried?

"I don't expect that was just a lucky shot, was it?" he comments, gesturing towards the gun in Vixen's hand. She passes it back to Xiao at his silent command, watching in utter curiosity as he addresses the sinner. "Keep that. I'll get you some extra Carmine bullets to carry around."

@sinner-xiao

*Obie walks into a bar he’s never been to before. He thought he could use the change in scenery. There’s not much of a crowd, so he takes a seat at a stool at the bar, behind which works a fox fellow dressed as Fez from That 70s Show.*

Hey, uh, do you happen to have Labatt Blue? I’ll take one, if you do, please. -🐻

@sinner-obie

Vinnie glances up from where he'd been nearly dozing off behind the vacant bar.

"Huh? Oh, sure, let me—" As soon as he can turn around, he spots his sister chugging the very last bottle. "—check... Fuck. Seriously, Vix???"

He glances back up at Obie, pursing his lips. "Well, apparently not. Consider your next hit half-off seeing that my sister here is planning to drink me out of a new customer. But I'll send our errand girl out for some more. She could use the walk, she's getting yappy."

@sinner-obie @sinner-xiao

[claws-for-hire]

Vixen doesn't even have time to duck. She whips her head around, making direct eye contact with the attempted assailant just as the bullet pierces their skull. It takes her a long moment to register the scene as it plays out so quickly. Vinnie had been a bit quicker, dragging her off of the counter with one arm, but even he hadn't had enough time to reach a weapon of his own. His hands are empty, almost shaky, so who...

Then she sees her from across the bar: Xiao with a pistol of her own in one hand, her expression unreadable as the attacker crumbles to the floor in a puddle of his own blood.

Unrelated bargoers file out as quickly as they came, leaving behind no one but the staff in the wake of the crime to gawk at the body on the ground — except Vixen couldn't give a damn about the body... she can't stop staring at Xiao.

"You... You... YOU CAN SHOOT?!?!!! I mean, of course you can, but you— You— That was—"

Vinnie's heart is still drumming out of his chest, but he's a little calmer as he immediately points in the direction of the front door. "Lock," is all he says to Xiao, his voice strangely stern, more focused than either girl is used to as his eyes narrow, examining the empty bar. When he's satisfied they're alone, he runs a hand through his hair, exasperated, and looks back up at Xiao. "You have any idea who the hell that was?!"

@sinner-xiao

*Obie walks into a bar he’s never been to before. He thought he could use the change in scenery. There’s not much of a crowd, so he takes a seat at a stool at the bar, behind which works a fox fellow dressed as Fez from That 70s Show.*

Hey, uh, do you happen to have Labatt Blue? I’ll take one, if you do, please. -🐻

@sinner-obie

Vinnie glances up from where he'd been nearly dozing off behind the vacant bar.

"Huh? Oh, sure, let me—" As soon as he can turn around, he spots his sister chugging the very last bottle. "—check... Fuck. Seriously, Vix???"

He glances back up at Obie, pursing his lips. "Well, apparently not. Consider your next hit half-off seeing that my sister here is planning to drink me out of a new customer. But I'll send our errand girl out for some more. She could use the walk, she's getting yappy."

@sinner-obie @sinner-xiao

[claws-for-hire]

Vixen rolls her eyes, flashing Xiao an annoyed 'Can you believe this guy?' look. "We're hitmen," she says bluntly. "And pretty famous ones, if I don't say so myself. Are you new here or just stupid?"

"He's probably just not used to this scene. Could be one of those 'here on a technicality' kinda demons, right?" Vinnie offers, attempting to give the poor guy a break. "Who knows, maybe he lived a decent life and then... accidentally pushed his grandma down the stairs or something. Not everyone's particularly good at Hell when they first get here, and, y'know... not everyone needs to be here."

Vixen scoffs, unconvinced. "We're hitmen," she reiterates, as if that message were missed. She turns back to Obie, groaning as he takes his leave. "Little piece of advice: don't be so soft. Nothing here is ever just beer. The second you start trusting signs and shady business owners with your whole chest is the second some other merc gets the perfect opportunity to catch you in plain sight. Don't be an idiot and get yourself double-killed. Those are the types of people we clean up."

@sinner-xiao @sinner-obie

*Obie walks into a bar he’s never been to before. He thought he could use the change in scenery. There’s not much of a crowd, so he takes a seat at a stool at the bar, behind which works a fox fellow dressed as Fez from That 70s Show.*

Hey, uh, do you happen to have Labatt Blue? I’ll take one, if you do, please. -🐻

@sinner-obie

Vinnie glances up from where he'd been nearly dozing off behind the vacant bar.

"Huh? Oh, sure, let me—" As soon as he can turn around, he spots his sister chugging the very last bottle. "—check... Fuck. Seriously, Vix???"

He glances back up at Obie, pursing his lips. "Well, apparently not. Consider your next hit half-off seeing that my sister here is planning to drink me out of a new customer. But I'll send our errand girl out for some more. She could use the walk, she's getting yappy."

@sinner-obie @sinner-xiao

[claws-for-hire]

Vinnie ruffles Xiao's fur as she walks past, grinning ear to ear. "Aww, this puppy?" he asks in a fake-innocent tone, batting his eyelashes at the annoyed face she flashes him. "She's thrilled, trust me. That's just her resting face."

Vixen tosses the empty bottle into the bin behind her, hoisting herself onto the bar itself. She crosses one leg over the other, heaving a dramatic sigh. "Quit before she bites you," she teases, nudging his shoulder before turning back to Obie. "But we don't have all day for theatrics. Who do ya' want taken out?"

*Obie walks into a bar he’s never been to before. He thought he could use the change in scenery. There’s not much of a crowd, so he takes a seat at a stool at the bar, behind which works a fox fellow dressed as Fez from That 70s Show.*

Hey, uh, do you happen to have Labatt Blue? I’ll take one, if you do, please. -🐻

@sinner-obie

Vinnie glances up from where he'd been nearly dozing off behind the vacant bar.

"Huh? Oh, sure, let me—" As soon as he can turn around, he spots his sister chugging the very last bottle. "—check... Fuck. Seriously, Vix???"

He glances back up at Obie, pursing his lips. "Well, apparently not. Consider your next hit half-off seeing that my sister here is planning to drink me out of a new customer. But I'll send our errand girl out for some more. She could use the walk, she's getting yappy."

@sinner-obie @sinner-xiao

[claws-for-hire]

"...Walkies? 🥺"

(Steals your dog.) -💰

@the-burglar-from-sims-1

Vinnie: "NOOOOOOOOOOO, MY PUPPY!!!!!!"

Vixen: "Isn't she a grown a—"

Vinnie: "SHUT UP THAT'S MY BABY!!"

Vixen:

(She's gonna fuck the dog)

@sinner-xiao

[claws-for-hire]

What would your Pokémon team look like?

Vixen: "My HUH???"

Vinnie: "Sir, we're old." 💔💔💔

[claws-for-hire]

*Obie walks into a bar he’s never been to before. He thought he could use the change in scenery. There’s not much of a crowd, so he takes a seat at a stool at the bar, behind which works a fox fellow dressed as Fez from That 70s Show.*

Hey, uh, do you happen to have Labatt Blue? I’ll take one, if you do, please. -🐻

@sinner-obie

Vinnie glances up from where he'd been nearly dozing off behind the vacant bar.

"Huh? Oh, sure, let me—" As soon as he can turn around, he spots his sister chugging the very last bottle. "—check... Fuck. Seriously, Vix???"

He glances back up at Obie, pursing his lips. "Well, apparently not. Consider your next hit half-off seeing that my sister here is planning to drink me out of a new customer. But I'll send our errand girl out for some more. She could use the walk, she's getting yappy."

@sinner-obie @sinner-xiao

[claws-for-hire]

(Steals your dog.) -💰

@the-burglar-from-sims-1

Vinnie: "NOOOOOOOOOOO, MY PUPPY!!!!!!"

Vixen: "Isn't she a grown a—"

Vinnie: "SHUT UP THAT'S MY BABY!!"

Vixen:

(She's gonna fuck the dog)

@sinner-xiao

[claws-for-hire]

Vinnie surveys her with a slight quirk in his brow. He's always been better at reading people than his sister, who prefers to roll her eyes and keep things to just the two of them. But running such a tight ship has started to get boring, at least they could both confidently admit that.

Xiao seems... lonely, when Vinnie finally puts his finger on it, like a dog at the pound. He glances back at his sister with the slightest, toothiest grin. "She kinda looks like Wobbles, doesn't she?" Childhood dog. The comparison makes Vixen giggle just a bit.

He pats Xiao on the shoulder without much intimidation. "Welcome to the team, fleas," he finally says without even the slightest hint at a question. "We could use some height here. It'll keep the bar fights in check."

Vixen nods at last. "If you don't have anywhere to crash, there's a room behind the bar. It's mostly boxes, but there's a sofa too." She glances back down at the file. "Now if you don't excuse us, we've got a hit to track down."

Xiǎo walks into the bar, hoping her giant figure didn’t bring too much attention to her. She looked around.

This should be easy enough. Just make the request and get out. All her problems will solved after this. Most of them anyway.

She sees two foxes at the counter and approaches them.

I hear you run a business that deals with some…undesirables here in Hell. Don’t tell me I’m mistaken? -🐶

@sinner-xiao

Vixen has to look up a considerable amount from behind the bar just to meet the girl's eyes. She blinks, pursing her lips momentarily as she processes the request, before her mouth slowly narrows into a sinister sneer.

"Undesirables, huh? You could say that. What's got you barking our way about it, hun?" she asks cautiously, careful not to tip off any of the unsuspecting patrons. She tosses a rag over her shoulder as she steps away for a moment. When she's sure no one is looking, she holds out her hand, sharp claws on full display. "And how much are you willing to pay?"

[claws-for-hire]

Vixen looks away, sheepishly scratching the back of her neck. The bar is admittedly a bit of a wasteland. The tables need cleaning, the stashes are running low, and overall the interior of the Tavern itself echoes with an eternally run-down aura. "I mean, with our other work the bar isn't really the main priority anymore... Just a good cover for intel..."

But Vinnie interjects with a different takeaway. "You do anything interesting 'round here yourself?" he asks, reaching up to daringly poke at Xiao's shoulder. When Vixen shoots him a confused look, he simply shrugs. "What? She's asking for a reason, is she not? Maybe she's looking for a job. She does look kinda lonely, I don't think she has much going on."

"That's not—" Vixen sighs and gives up. "Whatever."

Xiǎo walks into the bar, hoping her giant figure didn’t bring too much attention to her. She looked around.

This should be easy enough. Just make the request and get out. All her problems will solved after this. Most of them anyway.

She sees two foxes at the counter and approaches them.

I hear you run a business that deals with some…undesirables here in Hell. Don’t tell me I’m mistaken? -🐶

@sinner-xiao

Vixen has to look up a considerable amount from behind the bar just to meet the girl's eyes. She blinks, pursing her lips momentarily as she processes the request, before her mouth slowly narrows into a sinister sneer.

"Undesirables, huh? You could say that. What's got you barking our way about it, hun?" she asks cautiously, careful not to tip off any of the unsuspecting patrons. She tosses a rag over her shoulder as she steps away for a moment. When she's sure no one is looking, she holds out her hand, sharp claws on full display. "And how much are you willing to pay?"

[claws-for-hire]

Vinnie has to literally climb the large shelf behind the bar to find the requested drink amongst the array of various alcohol selections. Finally, he calls, "Ah, got it... Might be a little old, though. Hardly anyone's asked for it since we opened. And that was, oh God... 79?"

"December of 79, so basically the 80's," Vixen shrugs as she takes the photo, examining the target. "Oh shit, I've seen this guy."

Vinnie passes Xiao the full bottle and takes a look for himself. "So... Easy hit, then?"

Xiǎo walks into the bar, hoping her giant figure didn’t bring too much attention to her. She looked around.

This should be easy enough. Just make the request and get out. All her problems will solved after this. Most of them anyway.

She sees two foxes at the counter and approaches them.

I hear you run a business that deals with some…undesirables here in Hell. Don’t tell me I’m mistaken? -🐶

@sinner-xiao

Vixen has to look up a considerable amount from behind the bar just to meet the girl's eyes. She blinks, pursing her lips momentarily as she processes the request, before her mouth slowly narrows into a sinister sneer.

"Undesirables, huh? You could say that. What's got you barking our way about it, hun?" she asks cautiously, careful not to tip off any of the unsuspecting patrons. She tosses a rag over her shoulder as she steps away for a moment. When she's sure no one is looking, she holds out her hand, sharp claws on full display. "And how much are you willing to pay?"

[claws-for-hire]

Vixen's eyes narrow, her sunglasses sliding down the bridge of her nose. "Fāng... Fāng.... Vinn, do we know that guy?"

Vinnie thinks about it for a minute. "Mighta known Louie before we took care of him again? No clue, but the name sounds familiar."

Vixen grimaces at the thought before turning back to the taller girl. "Got a profile for us? Picture, general whereabouts, associates, bars he may frequent? Is he good with weapons? Does he own any Carmine products we should be weary of? I'll start a file and depending on location we can have him gone in, eh... a weekend? Give or take."

Vinnie pulls out a chair for Xiao. "Drink? It's on the house for paying 'customers,'" he says with a wink.

Xiǎo walks into the bar, hoping her giant figure didn’t bring too much attention to her. She looked around.

This should be easy enough. Just make the request and get out. All her problems will solved after this. Most of them anyway.

She sees two foxes at the counter and approaches them.

I hear you run a business that deals with some…undesirables here in Hell. Don’t tell me I’m mistaken? -🐶

@sinner-xiao

Vixen has to look up a considerable amount from behind the bar just to meet the girl's eyes. She blinks, pursing her lips momentarily as she processes the request, before her mouth slowly narrows into a sinister sneer.

"Undesirables, huh? You could say that. What's got you barking our way about it, hun?" she asks cautiously, careful not to tip off any of the unsuspecting patrons. She tosses a rag over her shoulder as she steps away for a moment. When she's sure no one is looking, she holds out her hand, sharp claws on full display. "And how much are you willing to pay?"

[claws-for-hire]

Vixen takes the wad of cash into her hands, quickly counting — and immediately losing count — of the bills with the tip of her claw. All hundreds. She can work with this. Fangs on full display, her smug smile widens. She shoves the wad of cash into her pocket and cups her hands around her mouth, hollering at the top of her lungs.

"EVERYONE OUT! VINN, GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE!"

The muffled sounds of patrons in varying states of drunkenness can be heard all throughout the Tavern, complaints and groans filling the air like music to the fox's ears. Once everyone is out the door with a good nudge each, the other half of the "business" shuffles over to them.

"Wh—" Vixen flashes him the wad of cash, immediately swatting his hand away when he reaches for it. "Oh."

He glances up at the new customer, suddenly curious as he notes her height. "A big dog like you can't handle her own problems?" He shrugs. "Fine by me! Who's the unlucky fella?"

Xiǎo walks into the bar, hoping her giant figure didn’t bring too much attention to her. She looked around.

This should be easy enough. Just make the request and get out. All her problems will solved after this. Most of them anyway.

She sees two foxes at the counter and approaches them.

I hear you run a business that deals with some…undesirables here in Hell. Don’t tell me I’m mistaken? -🐶

@sinner-xiao

Vixen has to look up a considerable amount from behind the bar just to meet the girl's eyes. She blinks, pursing her lips momentarily as she processes the request, before her mouth slowly narrows into a sinister sneer.

"Undesirables, huh? You could say that. What's got you barking our way about it, hun?" she asks cautiously, careful not to tip off any of the unsuspecting patrons. She tosses a rag over her shoulder as she steps away for a moment. When she's sure no one is looking, she holds out her hand, sharp claws on full display. "And how much are you willing to pay?"

[claws-for-hire]

The 70's are back and foxier than ever!!

Anyways, admin (@ moreaustars) speaking because I feel I need a pinned post. Meet the newest additions to the Lutualverse, the fox twins Vixen and Vincent (Vinnie)!!

Here you can inquire about any assassination— I mean purposeful booboo needs you have for your enemies in Hell!! They're sure to help you out... For the right price.

For inbox rules, please check my pinned post over on @ask-vaggie as all rules there apply here too.

(Admin is 18+, pronouns they/them)

[claws-for-hire]

Xiǎo walks into the bar, hoping her giant figure didn’t bring too much attention to her. She looked around.

This should be easy enough. Just make the request and get out. All her problems will solved after this. Most of them anyway.

She sees two foxes at the counter and approaches them.

I hear you run a business that deals with some…undesirables here in Hell. Don’t tell me I’m mistaken? -🐶

@sinner-xiao

Vixen has to look up a considerable amount from behind the bar just to meet the girl's eyes. She blinks, pursing her lips momentarily as she processes the request, before her mouth slowly narrows into a sinister sneer.

"Undesirables, huh? You could say that. What's got you barking our way about it, hun?" she asks cautiously, careful not to tip off any of the unsuspecting patrons. She tosses a rag over her shoulder as she steps away for a moment. When she's sure no one is looking, she holds out her hand, sharp claws on full display. "And how much are you willing to pay?"