Gangster's Paradise (August/ ??????)

[jarahamee]

August pulled off his easy job without a hitch, writing down exactly what he witnessed at the location at hand, and dropped off his note. What any of this had to do with what a gentleman was doing in his apartment at a certain time of night was anyone’s guess, but he had the distinct sense that something violent had potentially happened after his departure.

It wasn’t his problem, even after he heard there had been another slaying on that street, in that apartment. Wathais was just becoming a rougher town, that was all. Maybe it wasn’t as safe for vampires like the victim anymore.

Now, a week later, he was sitting at a café in the Underground, waiting for his contact to come collect him for the job. The main event. The big game, where he was going to really prove his worth, and perhaps, gain the kind of strength that might make him relevant. Maybe.

He held the drink cup in his hand, doing his best not to look suspicious as he sipped blood and wine mixed together on one of the many bar-stools.

[indeath]

Guilt had gripped August when he had learnt of the slaying right in the building he had spied on. He couldn’t help but feel complicit. Unwashable blood on his hands. The only consolation was that he was probably doing bad things since that was the rebel’s MO. He was pretty sure they could now link him to the death if they wanted to, it would make sense after the conversation with Ridha.
He definitely felt like he’d found himself in some kinda weird heisty type spy movie like he watched with Gia. As long as he wasn’t the dupe. Though he did feel like one. He had laid aside his values to fight the greater evil, there was no point being a pacifist if it got everyone killed. At least that’s what he told himself.

He hadn’t spent much time in the underground and it was exciting to see so many supernatural beings just acting naturally. Though he wasn’t used to being clocked so easily as a vampire. The barista hadn’t even blinked before showing him the vampire menu. He sighed heavily into his cup, it was definitely a pleasant drink and he could use the Dutch courage. He had tried not to think too hard on how they would make him stronger and he couldn’t help imagine the looks of disappointment on his friend’s faces if they knew.

As long as it didn’t cost him his soul. If anyone was getting that it’d be Yosh but he preferred to keep it. Souls were important after all. He sipped more of his ‘True Sangria’, enjoying the hit of alcohol with blood. He still felt like a sore thumb, he was no spy. He’d shaved his head again and wore glasses with his dark outfit. It didn’t look like him but was it too obvious?

[jarahamee]

The ‘contact’ didn’t keep him waiting long. The diminutive figure of a woman, wearing an oversized military jacket and high-waist jean-pants made her way through the front door. Her somber black eyes settled on the ‘disguised’ figure of August, and she approached the empty bar-stool by his side, crossing one leg over the other as she seated herself next to him.

She pushed the hoodie off the top of her head, her eyes gleaming brightly in the dim light. She was a striking woman. A large nose, high cheekbones, tanned skin and full lips, a sleek, athletic body flattered by the mixture of bulky and form-fitting clothing she wore. She ran a hand through her short hair and turned towards August, smiling slightly in greeting.

“Mr. Rosewood, nice to meet you. I’m Tigress.”

Her voice was serious as her expression. A little husky, like a smoker, but there was no smell of smoke on her clothing. Rosewood had been the fake name that August was previously assigned. Innocuous and realistic, the name suited him well, given his interest in the flower.

“We’re going to be meeting our client soon. I’ll give you your briefing as we walk. Go ahead and pay your tab in cash and come with me.”

Tigress motioned her head towards the vague direction of ‘down the street,’ which probably meant ‘follow me.’

[indeath]

August suddenly felt very nervous, would he be able to just go back to his normal unlife after this? He was stepping over a line… though technically he’d already stepped over it. He smiled at Tigress, wishing he’d gone for a slightly more impressive code name.

“It’s a pleasure ta meet ya! Ya don’t gotta see me bona fides? Hopefully we’re uh dry clean. Just a tic!”

August had spent a night trying to memorize all the spy slang just in case. He didn’t want to seem like a dude or something. He skulled the rest of his drink and left a generous tip with his payment. Not too generous though because he didn’t want to be remembered either. He followed Tigress the drink temporarily smoothing over some of his jitters.

He resisted the urge to chat and kept quiet, ready for his ‘briefing’. His contact would have to remain mysterious for now.

[jarahamee]

Tigress smiled, matching his gait after he paid his bills and followed her. They made an odd couple; he was almost a full foot taller than her diminutive frame. She moved closer to him, almost touching his arm, as if to indicate to the crowd that they were together.

She glanced up at Mr. Rosewood, her expression tense and serious suddenly.

“Mr. Rosewood, you have a deal with our very special client. Once I retrieve our briefcase from the safe, you’re going to be the one who holds it, and carries it during our meeting.”

The vampire paused, brushing a stray piece of freshly cut hair from her shoulder, then adjusted the collar of her jacket. Her fake smile of neutrality faded almost instantly as she switched subjects.

“You don’t have to worry about anything besides the deal. You have something that Master Luis Price wants in that case; a relic that allows the creation of ‘perfect’ blood. Ideal for our kind, pretty useless for anyone else. All you have to do is bargain with him for it. We’ll do the rest.”

[indeath]

August resisted the urge to look out for anyone familiar, it would just make him look more suspicious. He just had to rely on luck that no one would know it was him. Especially Grace, it did look sus and probably worse if he tried to explain it. It was early days and he didn’t want to jeopardize it. He was already nervous about how his deal might affect it. Grace wasn’t shallow but he was already shorter than her as is. She was so nice, he was pretty sure he was worrying for nothing. He shook his head, he was getting distracted.

He listened intently to Tigress, surprised but relieved his role wasn’t necessarily a violent one. Though it would place him at the center which could lead to be a part of the action.

“No worries. Just gotta hold the case… That ain’t code for anythin’ right? Is there a price I should aim for or just keep him hoppin’? So perfect blood for drinkin’ or like some kinda Aryan vampire maker?”

August assumed that wouldn’t actually be giving him the relic, it sounded dangerous. August wasn’t even sure what would make blood perfect, blood was blood. He adjusted the glasses on his nose, hopefully they made him seem smarter.

[jarahamee]

Tigress smiled grimly. She didn’t seem to notice his trepidation as she walked alongside him. Her air was of absolute calm, which, he might realize, was probably best for the job at hand. She brushed the bangs out of her eyes idly and leaned towards August conspiratorially.

“The only thing that we’re giving him is what he deserves, but your job is just to keep him busy.”

She confirmed, her dark eyes darting around this comfortably dimmed portion of the Underground. A pair of goblins walked close to them, stepping back when one almost stumbled directly into August, spilling her drink in the process. The goblin made a startled sound and adjusted the back of her dress, wandering in the other direction.

The slender woman took his hand, guiding him towards community lockers. Common sorts, nothing like the safe he might have imagined.

She fished a key out of her jacket pocket, wandered over to one of the largest, and then pulled out a duffle bag. After a moment of fiddling, she threw the duffle bag in the nearby trashcan, and handed August a rather heavy briefcase.

Made of fine leather, and mid-weight, it was otherwise completely unremarkable.

“It purifies blood placed into it, to make its taste and power ideal for vampires. Kind of like a super-charge. We’re fairly sure it’s a powerful and evil magical item, so don’t touch it if you can help it.”

She sighed softly at the thought.

[indeath]

August tried to emulate the other vampire’s demeanor, nerves wouldn’t help him here. Sadly his old breathing exercises were now mute and he really didn’t want to imagine any elder vampire naked. They could possibly read your mind and get the wrong idea.
August shuddered. He smiled back pushing back any trepidation. He could do this, he would do this.

“Alright! Luckily I can talk the ears off a donkey! No worries! This guy sounds like a huge turd.”

August apologized to the clumsy goblins even though he wasn’t at fault. It was a reflex. He could smell the alcohol and looked down at his dark clothes hoping there wouldn’t be a mark or anything. He’d just smell a little seedy. He needed to seem professional.

He took the briefcase holding onto to it tightly but not too close. He didn’t need a curse. It sounded like something Yoshio would sell. Seemingly good but with a price.

“Are ya alright, Tigress? Somethin’ got ya concerned?”

[jarahamee]

“The biggest dog-dropping of all. We’re hoping that no one will have to deal with him again soon.”

The Tigress glanced up at August, almost as if she had briefly forgotten he was standing there next to her. She shook her head and smiled thinly, as if to put August at ease, and reached over, tentatively, to place a hand on his arm. They were posing as a couple, after all.

“I’m always a little nervous before we begin a plan.”

She squeezed August’s arm lightly. As they walked down the crowded street, two dark shapes peeled off the wall to join them. One was the familiar form of Ridha, and the other was a tall vampire with long, dark hair wearing a simple suit. The Tigress smiled as they fell into stride with her, but said nothing, merely nodding as they took their place.

Ridha tipped his hat at August and smiled as he recognized the other vampire in turn. Today he wore a woman’s tunic and tights, and had his long hair loose about his shoulders. His sunglasses were folded and stuck in his breast pocket. He didn’t need to hide who he was in the Underground, after all.

“Mr. Rosewood, the address is over here. You just have to knock three times.”

Tigress gestured towards what seemed to be the back door of a very large building, making their way into one of the many alleys in the Underground. It was dark here, but that was a comfortable place for many of the supers who lived here. The steel one-way door seemed to stare August down from its place at the top of the stairs.

[indeath]

August appreciated the comforting of his small companion and hoped he’d get to know her better later in a friendful way. He smiled a greeting at Ridha and the stranger.

“Right. Three times. Wish me luck!”

He gripped the briefcase and looked back at the three other vampires. Realizing he was to go in alone… he’d half assumed one of them would go in with him. He tried to remember the old warm up exercises he used to do with his actors. He muttered ‘Six sticky skeletons’ under his breath as he moved towards the door, trying to imagine how ‘Mr. Rosewood’ would walk. He stared at the door for just a moment before knocking three times. Game time. He was Mr. Rosewood purveyor of cursed artifacts. It then came to him, he should try to act a little like Yoshio.

[jarahamee]

Perhaps to his relief, Tigress and Ridha were only a step behind him. Perhaps they were acting as his supposed bodyguards. Both vampires wore neutral expressions, appearing removed and professional. Almost felid in their detachment.

The door was unmarked and unobtrusive. Thick steel, planted right in the middle of a dirty brick wall, bolted in with large, wide bolts. A security camera peered down at him, red power button blinking. A spraypainted number above the doorway was the only confirmation he had that he was standing in the right spot.

August knocked, and after a moment of hesitation, there was soft scraping on the other side of the door, before it slid open with a soft grating of metal.

The hall on the other side of the door was pitch black, but August’s keen vampire eyes picked out the sleek shape of two other predators approaching him. A tall person, pale with light hair, wearing a black overcoat, and a woman with dark make-up and purple hair, wearing alternative clothing. Neither seemed particularly friendly, though the shorter person eyed August, before bowing.

“Mr. Rosewood and companions? We’ve been expecting you…”

She eyed Ridha and Tigress, her expression wary, but stepped back into the hallway, allowing them entrance while her taller companion closed the door behind them with a heavy CLANK and a resounding CLUNK of the following lock.

And with that, August was locked in a room with the strange vampires.

The tall one looked over their shoulder at him, red eyes shining in the darkness. Were they an albino?

“Follow me, we’ll take you somewhere…comfortable..”

[indeath]

August was awash with relief that the other two were with him and tension left him like the release of a sink plug. Though it crept right back in as the figures approached, it began to feel more real. He could actually die for real today. He kept his face neutral trying to keep his fear in check. He bowed back with a large smile that flashed in the darkness.

“That’s us. It’s an absolute pleasure ta be doin’ business. Chuffed as a squirrel with a nut.”

Well there was definitely no backing out now, he’d been working hard on his shadow skills but slipping out a locked door wasn’t going to happen, especially since you needed light to have shadows. He followed them managing to keep his body language in check. He couldn’t help but wonder what evil vampires considered slightly more comforting, as long as there wasn’t human furniture it would be okay.

“Ya boss not a fan of light, huh? Surely in the underground sunlight is less of a problem…”

[jarahamee]

The two escorts stood on either side of August, watching him expectantly. Their eyes were bright, likely hyperaware of the other two vampires behind them. Tigress and Ridha, for their part, remained silent, filing behind August, letting him talk. He had the distinct sense that they pretending to be bodyguards, adding a layer of legitimacy to his leadership, while allowing themselves in, by way of trojan horse.

The albino vampire spoke, pushing their long white hair out of their face with a smile. Their pinkish red eyes shone back at August as they seemed to catch him staring at them. Their eyebrows also appeared to be white, fading away and into the contours of their face.

“Oh, he prefers the darkness. It provides us with all the advantage, and of course, it’s just very pleasant. We are an all-vampire group down here, so the darkness is…well, it’s home. Do you prefer light, Mr. Rosewood?”

The woman with purple hair inclined her head, watching him with keen eyes. Her lips were slightly pursed, waiting, brows wrinkled in thought. Her gaze traveled to his briefcase, and then back up, and August had the distinct sense that she was measuring up how worthwhile this transaction with her boss would be.

The two paused before a large oak door set in the stone, reinforced by iron. August had the distinct feeling that no one was going to be getting past it. The two escorts pressed their palms into the indent to either side. There was a soft click, and the door swung inwards, apparently unlocked by some form of magic.

The office within was surprisingly large and beautifully decorated. A great oak desk stood in the far back, large paintings were staggered behind, depicting various men and women, elaborately depicted in renaissance style. Artifacts were placed around the room, giving it the appearance a place that was just as much an office as a museum.

In the very back, standing with his face towards a shelf, was the slender figure of a vampire who stood nearly as tall as August himself. His shaggy golden mane highlighted the angles of his face, and his blue eyes glowed faintly in the darkness of the room as he turned to face the newcomers.

“Mr. Rosewood. How nice to meet you. I’m Master Luis, though I’m sure you know this by now. Please, take a seat. Tell me about what you’re about to offer me, hm?”

The vampire spoke in the fearless, cocksure way that many older vampires did. It was clear from how he acted, the vampire was afraid of nothing. And why would he be? August could feel the soft borders of his incredible power, even from their close proximity.

“And your friends…they can stand over there.”

He gestured to the back of the room. Tigress and Ridha looked at one another, and then, after a pause, relocated themselves farther back in the room.

[indeath]

August did not enjoy being flanked by two vampires who could probably destroy him without missing a step. Still confidence was key, like facing a predator in the wild. He looked the albino in the eyes as he answered their question, feeling very much like it was a trick.

“I’m at home in the shadows like a flea on a dog but there’s something nice about the light. It’s just a darn shame it doesn’t seem ta like us.”

No humans, that was something at least. One less thing to worry about. Hopefully these guys were just as dastardly as their boss. He was impressed by the room and had to fight the urge to explore all the oddities. Yosh would love it here. The crime lord was not how he expected at all. He’d been expecting something like the movies he and Gia watched.

He smiled at the elder vampire though every fiber wanted to run. He sat down leaning into the chair in what he hoped was a casual manner. He needed to emulate the cocksure attitude of this vampire though elder vampires could usually sense his “freshness”.

“It’s just a gosh darn pleasure ta meet ya in person, Master Luis. Straight ta business huh? No wishing washin’ about. Bless ya heart. I have quite the item indeed. Somethin’ that might spark even ya own distinct interests… A relic that amplifies the gifts blood already gives us. The energizer bunny could never!”

[jarahamee]

Master Luis’ eyes fixed lazily on August, watching his every move, cat-like. He seemed entirely confident, head lifted, unafraid of all the ‘lesser’ vampires that presented themselves in front of them. He strode over to the desk, and seated himself in the chair there, hands folded, one over the other, watching August arrange himself in the chair in front of him.

“Oh, I have heard of its effects. It almost seems too good to be true.”

His eyes traveled to August’s suitcase, lingering there, and he made a soft ‘tisk’ sound between his teeth. He looked as if he wanted nothing more than to open up and examine the contents of the case, but instead, he drummed his fingers against the desk, and looked back over at August expectantly.

“You don’t suppose… I can see it, do you?”

The vampire’s teeth glinted ivory white, his blond curls bouncing.

The albino and the female vampire both drew back to his side, providing their passive support. Each stared blankly at August’s suitcase.

Tigress and Ridha, meanwhile, had begin to carefully situate themselves, moving apart and to opposite areas of the back of the room, as if triangulating. Both remained silent, so as not to disturb the goings on.