“Crushed Coconut Valley.”

  “Hazelnut.”

  “What?”

  “Hazelnut.”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  Leido and Riga naturally took another sample. Between waffles and sprinkles were multiple cups. Each filled with a single scoop of ice cream in a multitude of flavours. Vanilla Chiller, Chocolate Cranker, Urmaberry Ursurper - it went on and on.

  “Mmh.”

  “Yes. I agree.”

  Nela had just started her shift. Her eyes were too tired to follow the charade of the seasoned con-artists in front of her. She engaged anyway – she had to.

  “So, you want a cone or a cup?”

  They inspected their cups like sommeliers judging the color of wine.

  “What’s uh. What’s this flavour here?”

  Riga took another sample.

  “Blue Lagoon Startrails.”

  Leido nodded invested, while his hand slowly slithered toward the next cup.

  “Sounds interesting.”

  Nela would have loved to sigh, but part-time work meant full time misery. Smile, cheer and never talk back. It wasn’t truly a policy, not phrased like one anyway, still clearly insinuated.

  “Could I get one of that candy… something there?”

  Nela reached down and passed a scoop over the counter.

  “You know the cup is only two…”

  “What about the mint, berry. I can’t make out that last word.”

  She delivered it as monotone and uninspired as it gets.

  “Mint Berry Blaster, one of our best here at Yetis.”

  Smooth and sweet. Riga nodded intensely. She held the cup intimately close, like she might start whispering secrets to it.

  “Yes. I can see why.”

  A scream filled the air. He saw it right in front of him. Left hand to the railing, feet go high, a leap of faith. Frey stumbled; his hand slipped, sending him spinning. Mid-air he hoped that the water wasn’t as shallow as he expected it to be. Too bad though.

  He landed head first in the fountain, with his body rolling over itself. A scuffed breather – he needed a moment to gather his consciousness. Looked around like someone who hasn’t slept in days or was sleeping for days.

  Wet pants and ever looping Jazz. His eyes were drifting - Visitors, mascots, hovering screens and Ruri. She was standing at the railing on the level above.

  “That’s him!”

  Leido dropped his cup, while almost choking on his last bite. Riga on the contrary smacked her lips with relish and remained glued to her spot.

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  Frey’s eyes widened, staring at the gigantic lizard man. He didn’t know what to make of him. Leido was unlike every other species he had seen. Looked more like a horrible outcome of a lab experiment than an actual high cultural being. Now somewhat choking with his gaze looked onto Frey, there was a menacing nuance in his posture.

  Frey tried his best and leaped forward, dragging himself to the pathway beneath. The alley was narrow and packed. He jumped in-between. Leido followed.

  Ruri looked around for a way to cut off Frey. Riga – Well.

  Riga finished her cup.

  Nela wasn’t really surprised, she had seen worse. The chase of a criminal didn’t even make the top 5 list of this week’s highlights. Still, her annoyance remained.

  “Are you gonna buy a cup?”

  Riga turned to Nela after the uncertainty if she was even addressed. Her smile grew into a burst of laughter, while slowly walking away.

  “Be the class in classy. The Golden Grandeur.”

  “Good cards. Warm hearts. Cold Drinks.”

  The Slogans whizzed by. Frey shoved everyone he could and jumped over little décor of various shops. A mascot with a tray of glazed cupcakes stood in the middle of the road.

  She never saw it coming. Cakes looking like poker chips flew around, hitting people and stores. Someone choked on their drink, another one slipped on mushed chocolate. He pushed through, keeping one eye on Leido and the other one on possible exits.

  Leido tried his best but things were flying, people crossing and every shove from Frey put a growing gap between the two.

  He could see it again. A set of stairs, with a rounded double-sided railing in the middle. A clean slide, a roll and then a sprint to the right. He would be a level lower, there would be enough people in between and finally he could make good use of the twisted layout.

  He smirked.

  Then a metal tray straight to his head. He flipped. Ruri emerged behind a corner unseen, deliberate and very much fatal.

  People gasped. He could have been knocked out cold. Even Ruri looked at him uncertain if she hadn’t overdone it. She leaned down and could hear heavy breathing. With her thumb up she turned to the crowd.

  “It’s okay. He’s okay.”

  The few people that cared turned to the flickering lights and caramelized air again.

  “Ughh. My head.”

  Leido caught up. Ruri gave him a look that could have meant everything from “You didn’t get THAT guy, really?” to “Look, who has to do your job again.”. Whatever she meant and didn’t say – stung. Her piercing cold eyes had this ability.

  She dragged Frey to the side.

  “Hey, listen. I’m sure we can work this out.”

  “Yes. I think so too. I take you in and get the money. Work is out.”

  He chuckled nervously.

  “No. I mean - I’m not really who you think I am.”

  Her voice became mocking. She rose her hands to the face imitating a gesture of false shock.

  “Oh, you aren’t. No way… I have never heard that one.”

  “No. I mean…”

  He looked around like anyone would care, leaned forward and started whispering.

  “I’m not really Frey Glanning.”

  She became annoyed in an instant.

  “Your name isn’t Frey Glanning?”

  “Well. Some people call me Frey but it’s – you know.”

  “What?”

  “A pseudonym.”

  “A pseudonym?”

  “Yes. A stage name.”

  “What stage?”

  “No, like an artist’s name?”

  “What art?”

  “No. I’m not an artist. Just not who you think I am, right?”

  He leaned back again, like he released crucial knowledge for a secret case.

  “Out of all the names - in the known universe - you specifically choose to be called Frey Glanning?”

  He smirked again and started ending his sentences very cheesy and proud of himself.

  “Of course, I did. It has that certain – Razmataz.”

  “Don’t say razmataz.”

  “Honey, I say whatever I want.”

  Without ever changing her attitude she pulled out her blaster. He lost the pride and the cheese.

  “Okay. Wooh. I won’t say it ever again. I don’t like it anyway. It’s a stupid word.”

  He immediately forgot the presence of said gun again and added.

  “But let it be known. It was my choice.”

  She clicked out the safety.

  “Okay, Okay. Chill.”

  He straightened himself out.

  “Two Decks below us is a holding cell for the not so much Frey Glannings of this world.”

  She paused to see if Frey is still following. He shifted between looking at the blaster and onto Ruri.

  “We can go down this way in one of two ways. We walk side by side, peachy and happy or I walk peachy and happy you will be dragged across the floor with about two to five broken things.”

  He released some pressure with his last breather knowing he had to be smart about it.

  “Okay. Love your whole – vibe.”

  He chose every word very careful and slow.

  “Experienced, strong Bounty Hunter, who is surprisingly beautiful and articulated.”

  You could see Ruri’s patience fleeting.

  “But. But – If I may.”

  He smiled tense while covering his body expecting a devastating hit at any second now.

  “I can see how one might think I have a gambling debt but, you know despite – everything. I’m actually really good at gambling,”

  She stopped blinking. He moved on from covering to cowering.

  “I was framed.”