Poverty - Chapter One
Nathan licked his lips as he flicked the butt of the fag onto the ground, smiling at the satisfying fizzle as it rolled into the moisture collected between the cobble stones. He savoured the rich taste of the tobacco, of his last ciggarette. Tonight it came down to dinner or smokes, and the pain in his stomach over shodowed his craving. He slipped his paw into his trouser pocket, happily rolling the few coins he'd managed to scrape together between his fingers.
Pulling his coat tightly around his shoulders, Nathan trudged along through the cold december rain, being sure to tuck his ears under his cap, having already lost a good chunk of his left one to the cold. It was his one year anniversary in this new chilled wasteland he had recently decided to call home.
He was a mess.
"Land of opportunity, my ass." He muttered, pulling a louse off the back of his neck. "It's easy for you." He hissed. "I'm all the warmth and food you need. Little shite." he scowled at the insect as he crushed it between his claws, licking the blood absentmindedly off his fingers as he continued the long walk to O'Ryan's pub.
The cool mist lifting off the sea began to mix in with the smog of the city, soothing Nathan's over-worked nose. Sounds and smells tickled his senses. The combination of his pawsteps on the cobblestones, the smell of the sea, the creak of the ships, the bells on the buoys clanging occasionally out in the harbor... if not for the cold, it would all be so calming. It took him home.
Nathan sighed happily as the smell of grease hit his nostrils. All week he looked forward to his fish and chips on Friday. This Friday was particularly special, as with the leftover cash and a little smooth talking, he may have a pint to wash his supper down with. Careful to keep his tail from dragging on the cold stones of the street, Nathan whistled happily as he continued onward. His spirits perked by the smell of fish in the air as he approached the docks. He had always been a sea rat.
Nahtan ran his tongue along his teeth. Searching for some lingering flavour of tobacco as the need for another fag hit him hard. He focused on the rhythem of his pawsteps. He found it made the walk seem shorter.
As he neared O'Ryan's, Nathan could detect the scent of cheap perfume mixed in with the thick smell of fry and salt. It was rare that you'd find whores around at the pier unless there was a docking in progress. He smiled to himself. Those women could bleed a rich merchant dry. Two dull yellow lights shone through the fog, followed by the looming form of the pub. Nathan could hear the sounds of men laughing and glasses clinking and he smiled to himself. Even without the promise of food, it was worth the fridgid walk to O'Ryan's for the warmth and amusement it offered. If not a good crack*, then at least a fight or two.
"Ohh well if it isn't Nathaniel! Back to beg for more scraps, I reckon?"
Nathan grinned, he knew that voice.
"Hello, Molly. You're looking ravishing this evening." He tipped his hat to the feline hooker and she laughed coldly.
"Save that silver tongue of yours, rat. You'll need it to cheat another free meal out of Pete."
The cat slipped her hand between her breasts, producing a ciggarette. Nathan smirked.
"Anything you can't get from between those?" He asked. Molly laughed and spit on the ground.
"A better job and a steady fellow." Nathan chuckled and offered a light.
"Any chance I could pinch one of those?" He looked at her hopefully but she frowned. "
"Ahh no. I don't offer any freebies, darlin'. You want something I've got, you're gonna pay for it."
"Oh I have cash tonight, love." Nathan cooed, reaching up and stroking the soft white fur of her cheek affectionately. Molly closed her eyes for a moment and purred contentedly at the tenderness of his embrace. Despite Nathan's wily emaciated look, he was quite attractive. Tall, especially for a rodent, broad shoulders and a straight posture complimented his thoughtful, confident disposition. His grey eyes always seemed to have a mischeivious twinkle to them. Molly placed her paw on his, stepping forward and pressing against him.
"Big spender, hm?" The top of her soft furry breasts poked teasingly out of the low cut top of her dress. Her hips swayed slightly as they made contact with his and Nathan felt his sheath stir in his trousers. "Ah fuck... Molly... it's been such a long time..." he whispered in a raw tone.
Molly giggled,
"I can tell." She slipped her paw between their bodies and groped him gently. Nathan felt the head of his member slide out at her touch.
"You know..." he panted and she continued to squeeze his crotch, "This money could go to you instead..." He began to slide his hand slowly up the pert little feline's curvacious form, targeting those perky little orbs pressed between the two of them, his cock hardening to it's full eight inches. Molly smiled and kissed him softly, biting his bottom lip for a moment.
"Easily excited are we? Hmm... it could... but I'm already booked for tonight, handsome. Big man in our humble little hellhole, y'know." She smiled innocently and stepped back from him, eyeing the huge bulge in his pants for a moment before settling gracefully atop a crate just by the entrance to the pub. Nathan stared at her in disbelief, his face growing hot under his dark grey fur.
"You...? Why?! Bollocks!!"
Molly shrugged and smiled sweetly at him.
"I was bored, I suppose. Looks like you're stuck with that paw of yours for now, rat. Maybe some other time, hm?" Nathan scowled and tried, as subtly as he could, to shift his erection out of view. Molly laughed. "Awww now, poor mick... go get a bite to eat. You could use some flesh on those bones."
"There's one particular bone in need of some flesh, Molly..." Nathan grumbled and cursed as he loped awkwardly through the entrance, followed by the musical tinkling of the whore's laughter.
The room was filled with the smell of smoke and beer, dancing with the sound of laughter and merriment. Nathan almost completely forgot his frustration as he gazed happily at the drunks carrying on before him. A group of bears and horses plunged deep into argument as one of the equines proudly placed his royal flush on the table and declared, "All the baa!"* Scooping the spoils greedily into his arms, much to the grizzlys' dismey.
"Oi! Nate, m'boyo!" Nathan turned to Pete smiling at him from behind the bar. The stout old donkey was a sorry looking sight. One ear ripped clean off of him, the other left in shreads. His mouth was rank with rot, but that didn't stop him from proudly showing the little black stumps he called teeth in a big open mouth grin. Everyone adored him.
Nathan settled in a stool at the bar.
"Evenin', Pete! It'll be a plate of your famous fish and chips tonight, and a pint of stout if you don't mind." Pete eyed him, the smile fading from his muzzle. "I can't give ye no more credit, Nate. The missus and I are struggling to feed our own right now, we can't be bothered with-" Pete was cut short as Nathan produced the coins from his pocket.
"It's for cash tonight."
Pete's eyes lit up.
"Ahh why didn't ye say so?! I'll have Kathrine fry up yer meal for ye!" He clapped Nathan affectionately on the shoulder before disappearing behind the shelves of glasses and various booze. Nathan readjusted his cap on his head, settling it between his ears rather than on top of them. He concentrated, swivling his ears in all directions. He didn't like to evesdrop, but he wanted to see if he could find out about this "big man" Molly had mentioned. You were sure to pick up some juicy gossip at O'Ryan's.
"...slipped the card from his sleeve! I saw him..."
"...had a mouth on her like..."
"...fifty cents for a pint! Fifty cents could..."
"...hear he's got a lot of cash-" There. Nathan focused. "-in the bank, what what. A daughter too. Pretty little thing that she is, poor creature... mother taken by TB, though her father favoured harlots... ...death of his wife I hear... ...that he do... Must be hard to hate him the way he loves her... ...went 'bout treating her ma..."
"Fish and chips!"
Nathan jumped as Pete approached him, placing his food before him and grinning. "Eat up! Ye could use it! I'll get on that pint then, shall I?" He turned and grabbed a glass off the shelf. Nathan frowned slightly, despite the food steaming before him.
"I can only afford a half pint, I'm afraid." Pete turned to face him, sighing slightly.
"It's on me, lad. But this is yer last freebie." Nathan perked up his ears, smiling.
"Not even gonna make me plead this time?" Pete laughed.
"Ahhh, no. Though part of me hopes you'll repay your debt when you make it big." He winked at the rat and handed him his beer. Nathan took it rather greedily and brought it to his lips. The smell of roasted hops and barley mixed in beautifully with the aroma of his meal and he was hit by a pang of longing as the bitter liquid splashed over his tongue. Home. He set the glass down and wiped the foam from his muzzle.
"Thanks, Pete. Say..." Nathan paused as he popped a chip into his mouth, "You know anything about a rich foreigner in the area?" He stared at Pete expectantly as he continued to savour the first bite of his first meal in almost a week. Pete leaned against the polished oak of the bar. "Been gettin' wind of a rich wolf bloke. English I reckon, won't see him around these parts."
"I heard he's into the ladies of the night." Nathan mumbled into his pint. Pete's eyes widened.
"Och! Ye don't say? Ye think Molly might be bringin' him in? She's got a good rep as far as her work goes." Nathan shook his head contemplatively.
"I dunno, Pete... rich fellows seem to prefer to take their women home. They don't much like to be seen in-" Nathan was interrupted as the door banged open behind him. Pete straightened and smiled instinctively. He'd rehearsed the greeting so many times.
"Molly!" He called gleefully. Nathan hunched over his plate. "Good instincts, Nathaniel..." he muttered angrily to himself, scooping the last of his chips into his mouth.
"Hello, Pete!" Molly chirped. The next voice was unfamiliar.
"A whiskey for me, good man. And for the lady...?"
"Sherry, please." Molly again.
Nathan watched out of his peripheral vision as the pair settled beside him. The supple little feline and her large black wolf companion. Nathan chanced a quick look at the newcomer. He was large, probably not quite as tall as himself, but dignified and strong looking. His eyes were sunken, and his muzzle was flecked with grey, but his features were sharp, and his gaze was firm. He was dressed extravagantly. Polished gold buttons, on red satin. Black leather boots that ran up to the knee, skin tight brown breaches. A dignified bunch of lace under his chin. Nathan could tell he wasn't the type to be fooled with.
"You there." Nathan froze. He could feel those yellow lupine eyes burning into him. The wolf waited for a moment before repeating himself. "You there." Nathan faced him slowly. He could feel the stranger challanging him as their eyes met, but he forced a friendly smile.
"Hello, sir. Didn't realize you were talking to me." The wolf's lips curled up into a grin, exposing his vicious canines.
"You're a rat." Nathan fought the urge to feign surprise. Was he a moron?
"Uh... yes, sir." The wolf continued to grin menacingly at him.
"I haven't seen one of your kind since the slave market in Ireland." Nathan tensed. Every instinct he had screamed at him in unison.
Punch him, Nathaniel! Scratch his eyes out!
Run, Nathaniel. Get out of here. Get far away from this creature.
You want to know, don't you? Has he seen your parents?
KILL HIM. KILL HIM. KILL HIM.
He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, trying to ignore the haughty chuckle now coming deep from within the lupine's chest. Nathan turned back to the half finished piece of fish that lay on his plate.
"Hm. Really." The wolf didn't seem to notice that there was no upward inflection at the end of his sentance and replied.
"Yes. Tough workers, your kind, eh?" Nathan ground his teeth together, tapping his claws against the brass rail that ran along the bar.
"I suppose."
"Not the talkative type, are you?"
"I don't often enjoy discussing the enslavement of my people."
"And if I offered you pay?" Nathan spun around, startled.
"'Scuse me?"
"Payment. For groundskeeping at my estate."
"With all due respect, sir... you don't even KNOW me and-"
"I know you're a rat." The wolf looked at him expectantly. Nathan clenched a fist. There was nothing he hated more than profiling based on ones species. Still... money was something he desperately needed at the moment. Molly was watching them intently. As his eyes met those of the wolf he had to struggle not to falter. He said nothing, but nodded. The lupine grinned again. "213 West Blooresdale Street. Seven O'Clock tomorrow morning, boy." Nathan nodded again before popping the last of the fish into his mouth and chewing vigorously. He was done with this condescending bastard for now. He drained his pint and turned towards the door, the wolf called after him as he slipped his arm around Molly's waist. "Oh! One more thing!" The rat looked over his shoulder at him. The wolf smiled cooly. "What's your name, boy?"
"Nathaniel."
~To be continued~
(For those of you unfamilier with Irish slang:
* "All the Baa!" = "All the spoils!" declared when claiming your winnings.
* A crack is a sudden boost in the atmosphere. Going from good time to grand time basically =^.^=)