No Good Deeds Goes Unpunished: Chapter 1

Chapter 1

No matter where anyone was in this world, they needed money. It was the grease that smoothed out ruffled feathers and kept things grinding along down here in hell. Now it was certainly not a necessity as people can live without it, but not having any of it made things a hell lot harder no pun intended.

Without luck and money, a poor Lamb like him just had to do what he could to survive. Any job would do, so long as it was an honest one. If it means that he had to take up the work that nobody wanted, so be it. He had his pride, but what good would that do him.

Flyer in hand, he walked down the seedy alley leading to the bar. He would feel eyes on him as the shadows danced in the corner of his eyes, but he would ignore them as he kept his gaze ahead. "Don't mind them. Just keep walking," He reminded himself as he steadied his breath. He'd just have to worry about his safety later, right now, he needed the money.

"It'd barely cover your expenses," A small part of him whispered as he was reminded of what he'd be paid for a day's work, "Why bother working when you could barely feed yourself?" With his stomach gnawing at him and doubt creeping in, a treacherous part whispered to him, "Why not just take better jobs. You know how having no identity has its perks."

He was no one, a literal ghost in the system. Finding him after a deed would be close to impossible. Nothing was registered on his name and the only proof of identity he had was currently stuck in limbo inside an office. If he wanted, he could set himself up till he finally obtains his identity.

He just needed to do one sin and it didn't even have to involve killing someone. It could easily be him smuggling something illicit or even serving as a courier. All he had to do was just swallow his pride and take the first plunge. "Everyone's doing it, so why shouldn't you?" The small voice at the back of his head asked.

"No," He whispered as she shook his head, "It'll only get you into trouble later." What happens after he gains his identity? Suddenly, the deed that he had done had a name attached to it. Things like those simply didn't stay in the dark.

"At least the job I'm taking is an honest one," He whispered with a frown even as his stomach rumbled. It didn't pay much, but at least this way he wouldn't make enemies he would regret later. No need to dig himself deeper in this pit he found himself in. "And that honest job is why you're still stuck living off junk and sleeping in whatever hole you could find.."

Shaking his head, he pushed those thoughts in the back of his mind. He can worry about that later. Right now, he needed to make himself presentable as he found himself at the establishment that needed some extra hands.

Staring up at the dinghy sign and neon lights flashing away overhead, he sighed. "So this is the place huh?" He said out loud as he looked down on the flyer he had on hand. "Backroom Brew." Not the best name for a bar, but certainly far more appealing than Hangman's or Gallow Gulch.

"At least it has a sign unlike the last one," He muttered to himself as he knocked on the door. It wouldn't take long before a small window slid open. Staring back at the baleful glare leveled at him, he held up the flyer, "I'm here for this. Is it still open?"

Eyes turning to the flyer before turning back to him, the person behind the door narrowed his eyes before shutting the window. "Damn it," He whispered as his shoulder sagged in defeat only to perk up as he heard the quick unlatching of locks before the door opened.

Standing before him was a large rotund dung beetle in the shape of a man in a suit. With those black beady eyes staring at him and chittering mandibles snapping, he swallowed.

"Well, are you just going to stand there or are you coming in?" The man asked, snapping him out of his stupor as he hurriedly slid inside, "I ain't got all day. Get a move on already!" With the man on his heels urging him on, the lamb found himself in the dirty dingy kitchen of a bar.

The smell of spices and whatever drugs they throw in the food made his nose wrinkle, but he chose not to comment. Avoiding the glare of the lone chef in the back, they slipped out to the bar where patrons milled about.

With faded posters, dim lighting and the ever constant haze of cigarettes and whatever drug of choice hanging above them, the bar certainly had seen better days, but it felt lively. People were having fun at the card tables, while the music from the band up the air filled the air with some mellow tunes.

He could see himself hanging out here on a slow night if the drinks were cheap enough and when he finally had money to spend. As his eyes strayed to the bar itself, he found that no one was currently behind the counter. Odd, but he didn't mind it much as the beetle waddled ahead to a door off on the other side. "Follow me."

Slipping inside a cramped office, he sat before the rotund beetle as they took a seat. He took a moment to note how the man had a signed contract, one that made his very skin crawl with something before it passed.

He didn't know what it was, but wouldn't have much time to ask as the man clapped his multiple hands together. "Ok kid, I'll make this quick," The man said as he grabbed what letter he had on the table and shuffled through them, pushing the contract under a pile of other papers, "Time is money after all." As he took his eyes off the pile, the beetle asked, "Previous work experience?"

"I've worked a few odd jobs, mostly temps like these," He answered readily, "Dishwasher, stagehand, inventory, janitor, lots of odd and ends." In his time in hell, he had just done about every menial job he could find. It was not fun cleaning after a porn shot, but the V's paid surprisingly well. "Just nothing involving heavy machinery."

"Any drugs or addictions?" The man asked almost dispassionately, "I don't sell that many drugs. I only got cocaine and alcohol. That's it, nothing else."

Nodding, he answered, "Yeah, I don't really do drugs." As the beetle paused and stared at him, he hastily explained, "I just like being sober and not like I have money to spend." Drugs were expensive bandaids.

He also really didn't like the harder drugs even if he had accidentally taken a few whiffs from the smoke. It just made him feel terrible afterwards.

Eyes brow raising, the man asked in intrigue "Not even alcohol?"

Again, he answered, "Don't like it." Just the thought of having to deal with the nausea afterwards made him ill. He really hated dealing with puke, much less that off his own.

Shifting on his sea, the huge beetle leaned forward, hands clasped as he asked him with a small whisper, "You're legal right?" Head tilting, he added, "It's just I know some of you young kids like to run, so if you need some other kind of employment… maybe I could give you something else?"

Eyes twitching, he did his best not to snap back as he reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "Ok, I know I'm a runt, but I'm not a kid," He grumbled. Yeah, he was four feet flat of floof, skin, bones and all, but that doesn't mean he's a kid. As the man nodded, the smile on his mandle still eager, he gritted out, "Also no, I'm not that type of Lamb."

"You know the money's good," The man offered, "Reverse jailbait is all the rage right now!"

"Not that kind of Lamb," He grounded out, half tempted to just smash his head against the man's face. It'll be messy, and he'd definitely lose this job opportunity, but he'd never touch that kind of job. Anything but prostitution.

Shrugging, the man leaned back before he replied, "Your loss." Reaching out to grab a file, he handed it over, "Anyways, you're hired. Here's the contract."
With a sigh of relief, he thanked the man, "Thank you sir." Hopefully, he won't have that particular headache again. Just as he was about to get up and head back to that filthy kitchen that needs a good cleaning, he found himself with a face full of clothes.

"I want you off that ratty cloak and in something more presentable," The man told him as he crossed his arms across his chest., "We got a big event tonight I don't want you screwing it up." Not really one to argue, he nodded along. If the man wanted a dress code, so be it.

As he unfolded the offered cloth however, he frowned. "Wait," He asked as he stared at the name tag before looking up at the beetle, "Didn't you need a dishwasher?" Why then did the name tag say he was a bartender?

"Yeah, but my bartender bailed on me and you're the only honest schmuck I could find," The man shrugged. Grinning, the man leaned forward, elbows resting on the table as he rubbed his fingers together, "Besides, don't you want to get paid? Bartender gets to keep their tip, you know?"

Taking a deep breath, he sighed, "Just to be clear here, I've never mixed drinks before." It was a tempting offer, but the man hired him because he was honest. Best to keep that thing between them going.

His answer, however, only earned him laughter. "Kid," The beetle chuckled as he wiped the tear off his eyes, "We're not a fancy bar." Gesturing at the door outside, he added, "People here either want beer, whiskey or whatever cheap swill I had stock on the bar."

He tried to argue, but found that he really had nothing. Besides, he was just a bartender in all but name. He didn't need to be an actual bartender, right? Getting up from his seat and walking over, he patted him on the shoulders."

Just give them a shot, keep track of how much they drink and if things get dicey…" The main trailed off, head bobbing side before waving him, "Just go figure it out. I think I had a shotgun under that bar."

Now that he mentioned it, he hadn't seen any bouncers. Was he getting roped in more jobs than he signed up for? Crossing his arms, he told the man, "If you're going to make me do this, I want half now and half later."

He hated that the man was already pushing him to take on some roles, but the man didn't relent. Frowning, he leaned down to him as he reminded him, "Kid, you don't know how to mix drinks." With mandibles snapping, he tapped at his chest lightly, "I'm doing you a favor here."

Meeting the man's gaze, he replied, "Then what's stopping me from being a bleeding heart?"
Mouth opening as he glared at him, he cut him off, "And like you said, I'm the only honest schmuck you found that could cover for you."

Butting heads with the man, he reminded him, "And looks like you'd need someone to man the bar, someone that isn't going to rip you off." He might be an honest fool, but he wasn't going to be played like one. If they're going to push, he'd just have to shove back. "So what would it be?"

As his eyes glanced at the clock which told him that he had like two hours before happy hours hit, right when most workers get off from their twelve hour shift, he smirked, "And looks like you don't have much time."

Mandibles snapping angrily, the beetle pulled away as he threw up his hands, "Ok fine, have it your way!" Waddling over to the safe, he used his bulk to hide the rapid twisting and turning before the lamb found himself with not just half, but all the day's wage.

"But I swear if I see any scratch on the mahogany, I'll have your head, you hear me?!" The man raged as he slammed his hands on his table.

Steadying his breath and keeping a calm facade, he answered, "Understood." It was a dangerous game he played, but he meant to win it. The money now resting on his lap certainly helped.

Eyes narrowed, he held his gaze before letting out a sigh as he deflated. "Good," Standing back up to his full height, he waved him off, "Now get out of my sight and go serve some drinks. Time's wasting here!"

A/N:

Might do another chapter of this tomorrow cause the ideas are flowing here. Currently just doing this before doing commissions then the second winner of the month during voting period. Hope you guys don't mind