Scum of the Galaxy: Chapter 1
Title: Scum of the Galaxy
Author: rhin_ariel
Rating: R
Pairing: Sheppard/Weir
Summary: The underworld of the Pegasus Galaxy is out in force in the best bar around.
Notes: AU fic. Totally cracktastic!AU fic.
The streets were dark and quiet. Most people had already turned in for the night. It was getting near to midnight, and the city seemed dead.
Through the back alleys and passages, a lone figure stalked. He’d just arrived through the Gate. The settings were familiar, though it had been nearly a year since he’d been here. He hoped he was still heading in the right direction. He was looking for a particular building, which led to a particular alleyway, which led to a particular door. The door led to a bar famous among the criminal underworld. The bar was known as ‘The Red Den’, and was owned by one of the most intelligent and diplomatic people he had ever met.
‘The Red Den’ was a bar, a brothel and a hiding place for the most wanted people in the Pegasus Galaxy. Every outlaw knew about it. Secrecy was the key. It was not all lit up, and you wouldn’t find it on any tourist guide of the city. Anyone who entered needed a password, and then had to be approved by the fairly terrifying looking doorman. He also acted as a personal bodyguard to the owner. Upon leaving, you were sworn to tell no one except those they trusted most. If they told the police, they’d wind up dead before they could give any more details. It worked very well, especially as most of the customers couldn’t go anywhere near a police station, for obvious reasons.
Turning down another street, he saw it. The large set of offices looked imposing, but he knew what was hidden beneath. Everything was soundproofed, and the bar ran through the whole of the basement to include private rooms for the customers, and the girls. No one ever went down there to check it out; they were probably well paid not to. He didn’t really know, nor wanted to press for answer.
Looking around the street, he made sure it was empty before darting across into the alleyway. He ran a little further down till he reached the stairs down to the door. He walked down slowly and knocked a distinctive tattoo on the door. The door opened slowly, and a bright light spilled out onto the figure. Into the light stepped a tall figure. He was dressed in a black vest and dark trousers. His hair was long and dread locked. He looked the man up and down and smiled.
“Welcome back Sheppard.”
“Thanks Ronon, it’s been too long.”
Stepping into the light, he bathed in the warmth that hit him. Ronon shut the large door behind him, and opened another door. Music spilled out into the little entrance room.
“She’s been missing you.”
Sheppard shot a sideways glance at the imposing figure of the doorman, but saw no reaction. Ignoring the comment, he walked through the door and up to the small reception desk. Behind stood a smiling young woman dressed in a little blue top and a short black skirt.
“Good evening sir. May I take your coat?”
Sheppard smiled and removed his jacket. She took it with a smile and placed it on a hangar. She handed over a small ticket with a number. With a smile he pocketed it before pushing back the beaded curtain and entering the familiar surroundings of The Red Den.
Nothing had changed.
To the right of the curtain, the bar stretched along the wall. Behind it, the barman stood pouring out drinks for the men filling the bar seats. Across the middle were many round tables, all surrounded by chairs. Men sat playing cards, talking or getting cosy with one of the many girls. To the right, the small stage stood, it’s curtains drawn shrouding it in mystery. Right at the back were two sets of doors. One led to private quarters for the girls, which only they could go down. The other door led to rooms set aside for customers and if they wished to invite one of the girls to his room, for a fee of course. The place was lit by chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, though the place felt sort of dark and comforting. You couldn’t see everyone’s faces, which suited most people. Recognition wasn’t something they liked.
“Welcome back lad.”
Sheppard turned to smile at the voice. It came from the barkeeper, Carson. He was a friendly man who got on well with customers new and old. He was also the doctor for the girls, so he had to get on with them well. Most of the girls loved him; any that disliked him hid it well.
“It’s good to be back.”
Sheppard headed across to the bar and took up one of the empty seats. Carson grabbed a glass and placed it in front of him.
“Your usual?”
“Sure.”
Turning away, Carson took a bottle off the back shelf and filled the glass to the brim. Sheppard lifted it to his lips and downed it in one go.
“Another?”
“That would be nice.”
Carson smiled as her refilled the glass.
“She’s missed you.”
“Really? Ronon said it too. I doubt for a second she’d just tell you. How’d you know?”
“Well, we’ve had some very important guys in here. Gang bosses and the like, offering big money. Asked for her by name and everything. And you know what son? She turned them down. She’s been moping ever since you went.”
Sheppard didn’t respond, instead he drained half his glass and thought for a while.
“I hope those are on the house Carson?”
Sheppard caught sight of a flash of red next to him. Turning, his eyes moved to the floor and took in every inch of her body. Her high heeled red shoes. The bottom of her deep red dress that became lighter as he went up. He paid careful attention to the slit in the dress from the hem most of the way up her leg. It was a strapless dress, and her underwear was pushing her cleavage up just a little. The dress was made for teasing. He should know that though, he had bought it for her. Finally, he got to her face. Her lips were ruby red and her eyes were made up to look smoky and dark. Her bright brown eyes gazed at him as she smiled.
“Well well, if it isn’t my favourite bounty hunter. It’s good to see you again John.”
Sheppard put his drink down and stood up. He was around the same height as her, but only when she had her heels on.
“Well well, if it isn’t my favourite…how am I supposed to describe you again? Is it hooker or manageress?”
“Why don’t we stick to names?”
“That’s good.”
John stepped forward and pulled her in close to him.
“It’s good to see you too Elizabeth.”
Leaning in, he brushed her lips lightly with his. She smiled and kissed him back softly. Carson stood sighing. It was good to see her back to normal. If there was a normal for Elizabeth Weir, founder and owner of the Red Den, and one of the most powerful women in the underworld of the Pegasus Galaxy.
Author: rhin_ariel
Rating: R
Pairing: Sheppard/Weir
Summary: The underworld of the Pegasus Galaxy is out in force in the best bar around.
Notes: AU fic. Totally cracktastic!AU fic.
The streets were dark and quiet. Most people had already turned in for the night. It was getting near to midnight, and the city seemed dead.
Through the back alleys and passages, a lone figure stalked. He’d just arrived through the Gate. The settings were familiar, though it had been nearly a year since he’d been here. He hoped he was still heading in the right direction. He was looking for a particular building, which led to a particular alleyway, which led to a particular door. The door led to a bar famous among the criminal underworld. The bar was known as ‘The Red Den’, and was owned by one of the most intelligent and diplomatic people he had ever met.
‘The Red Den’ was a bar, a brothel and a hiding place for the most wanted people in the Pegasus Galaxy. Every outlaw knew about it. Secrecy was the key. It was not all lit up, and you wouldn’t find it on any tourist guide of the city. Anyone who entered needed a password, and then had to be approved by the fairly terrifying looking doorman. He also acted as a personal bodyguard to the owner. Upon leaving, you were sworn to tell no one except those they trusted most. If they told the police, they’d wind up dead before they could give any more details. It worked very well, especially as most of the customers couldn’t go anywhere near a police station, for obvious reasons.
Turning down another street, he saw it. The large set of offices looked imposing, but he knew what was hidden beneath. Everything was soundproofed, and the bar ran through the whole of the basement to include private rooms for the customers, and the girls. No one ever went down there to check it out; they were probably well paid not to. He didn’t really know, nor wanted to press for answer.
Looking around the street, he made sure it was empty before darting across into the alleyway. He ran a little further down till he reached the stairs down to the door. He walked down slowly and knocked a distinctive tattoo on the door. The door opened slowly, and a bright light spilled out onto the figure. Into the light stepped a tall figure. He was dressed in a black vest and dark trousers. His hair was long and dread locked. He looked the man up and down and smiled.
“Welcome back Sheppard.”
“Thanks Ronon, it’s been too long.”
Stepping into the light, he bathed in the warmth that hit him. Ronon shut the large door behind him, and opened another door. Music spilled out into the little entrance room.
“She’s been missing you.”
Sheppard shot a sideways glance at the imposing figure of the doorman, but saw no reaction. Ignoring the comment, he walked through the door and up to the small reception desk. Behind stood a smiling young woman dressed in a little blue top and a short black skirt.
“Good evening sir. May I take your coat?”
Sheppard smiled and removed his jacket. She took it with a smile and placed it on a hangar. She handed over a small ticket with a number. With a smile he pocketed it before pushing back the beaded curtain and entering the familiar surroundings of The Red Den.
Nothing had changed.
To the right of the curtain, the bar stretched along the wall. Behind it, the barman stood pouring out drinks for the men filling the bar seats. Across the middle were many round tables, all surrounded by chairs. Men sat playing cards, talking or getting cosy with one of the many girls. To the right, the small stage stood, it’s curtains drawn shrouding it in mystery. Right at the back were two sets of doors. One led to private quarters for the girls, which only they could go down. The other door led to rooms set aside for customers and if they wished to invite one of the girls to his room, for a fee of course. The place was lit by chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, though the place felt sort of dark and comforting. You couldn’t see everyone’s faces, which suited most people. Recognition wasn’t something they liked.
“Welcome back lad.”
Sheppard turned to smile at the voice. It came from the barkeeper, Carson. He was a friendly man who got on well with customers new and old. He was also the doctor for the girls, so he had to get on with them well. Most of the girls loved him; any that disliked him hid it well.
“It’s good to be back.”
Sheppard headed across to the bar and took up one of the empty seats. Carson grabbed a glass and placed it in front of him.
“Your usual?”
“Sure.”
Turning away, Carson took a bottle off the back shelf and filled the glass to the brim. Sheppard lifted it to his lips and downed it in one go.
“Another?”
“That would be nice.”
Carson smiled as her refilled the glass.
“She’s missed you.”
“Really? Ronon said it too. I doubt for a second she’d just tell you. How’d you know?”
“Well, we’ve had some very important guys in here. Gang bosses and the like, offering big money. Asked for her by name and everything. And you know what son? She turned them down. She’s been moping ever since you went.”
Sheppard didn’t respond, instead he drained half his glass and thought for a while.
“I hope those are on the house Carson?”
Sheppard caught sight of a flash of red next to him. Turning, his eyes moved to the floor and took in every inch of her body. Her high heeled red shoes. The bottom of her deep red dress that became lighter as he went up. He paid careful attention to the slit in the dress from the hem most of the way up her leg. It was a strapless dress, and her underwear was pushing her cleavage up just a little. The dress was made for teasing. He should know that though, he had bought it for her. Finally, he got to her face. Her lips were ruby red and her eyes were made up to look smoky and dark. Her bright brown eyes gazed at him as she smiled.
“Well well, if it isn’t my favourite bounty hunter. It’s good to see you again John.”
Sheppard put his drink down and stood up. He was around the same height as her, but only when she had her heels on.
“Well well, if it isn’t my favourite…how am I supposed to describe you again? Is it hooker or manageress?”
“Why don’t we stick to names?”
“That’s good.”
John stepped forward and pulled her in close to him.
“It’s good to see you too Elizabeth.”
Leaning in, he brushed her lips lightly with his. She smiled and kissed him back softly. Carson stood sighing. It was good to see her back to normal. If there was a normal for Elizabeth Weir, founder and owner of the Red Den, and one of the most powerful women in the underworld of the Pegasus Galaxy.