In the alley outside of his apartment, I took some deep breaths. The MoodMasher didn't scare me but visiting him was always strenuous. I opened the door, I'd known him too long to be bothered by knocking.
The room was dark and a faint tapping noise was emanating from the corner farthest away from me. I could feel a significant temperature change when I walked over the threshold.
"It's Benedict." I said simply. Suddenly, candles flared and a pungent smell of sweat and grim covered me. I gaged involuntarily and coughed several times.
"Have you quit bathing as well as tidying up the place?" It was a small room holding only the basics: a bed, a chair, a stove, a latrine, and a table. But empty mugs were scattered on every surface, clothes were piled high on top of the stove, and crumbs fell in such a heavy dusting over the floor that a few rats could be seen hiding in the shadows.
The bulky man I'd known since boyhood stood up from his hiding place behind the stove. He towered over me and I stood at six feet tall. His muscled arms weren't contained in a tattered tank top and his hair was oily. So quickly I almost missed it, he pulled a dagger from his pocket and stabbed a rat to the floor. The thing didn't even have time to squeak before it was dead.
An intense wall of pain hit me and tears formed in my eyes. The rat hadn't deserved that. It had been innocent. I knew deep down that I didn't care about the life of a rat because the glint in MoodMasher's eye easily told me he was enjoying the anguish he had created. He still hadn't said a word.
"Enough!" I cried angrily. "I'm not here to amuse you like a toy. I came to ask for your help." The sorrow ebbed slowly. I sat in the only chair. MoodMasher grunted as if to say 'Proceed'.
"I've recently met a young woman whose powers could be as great as mine. Together with her sister, we have decided to overthrow the King. Would you have any interest in helping us?" It was important to keep things short him him. His brain wasn't as well practiced as his fist.
"Why me?" He asked simply, almost with an air of amazement.
"Your powers would be very useful and you are a strong fighter if it should come to fists."
"Humph. I've known ya long enough to know that you wouldn't come here bothering me unless it meant a lot to ya. Besides, I would love to get my hands on some of 'em soldier's emotions. They took my Rabecca from me years ago." What he said was the truth, the soldiers had been harassing his wife while she was at home alone and when MoodMasher returned they had freaked and hit her with a large vase. She had died in his arms.
"Thank you my friend. I will return when plans have been made." I stood quickly and left. No need to spend extra time with him.
