Namaria stood numbly, arms hanging like leaden weights, as she stared blankly at the jumbled debris. Kahn had quit trying to sift through it a little while back, now he stood, arms folded tightly against his chest, a storm brewing behind his dark eyes. Both of them watching the futile efforts of the kine and their emergency crews attempting to deal with the aftermath of the building's collapse.

[i:b29f346faf]"Tyler's gone."[/i:b29f346faf] she stated flatly. Kahn only nodded. Then she sucked in a deliberate breath and looked at him. [i:b29f346faf]"What now?"[/i:b29f346faf] was her next question. Her companion slowly turned and brooded at her, his mouse companion already tucked into his pocket and sleeping off exhaustion. Even smart animals like Krisjo were simplistic about disasters.

Kahn wasn't happy that his beloved friend had made the decision to travel underneath the shifting pile of rubble to see if he could find any sign of the Gangrel. But he was grateful that the little mouse had made it back alive. Dirty and hairless in places, but alive. Nor was Krisjo happy about reporting his failure at finding anything at all regarding Finn.

Aria was chilled internally, to the point of insensitivity. If not for the fact that they'd gone out shopping, they would be lying on the bottom of that pile themselves. [b:b29f346faf]IF[/b:b29f346faf] they were lucky. [i:b29f346faf]"I think we need to leave, before the kine start noticing us. I'm getting too tired to keep them at bay. How about you?"[/i:b29f346faf] The Ravnos nodded but the weariness and sorrow was evident in every line of his body.

[i:b29f346faf]"I'll take you back to my room at the hotel and we'll figure out what happens next, if anything at all."[/i:b29f346faf] Kahn's head whipped around and he stared at her. Then, looking down and away from her, he shook his head. [i:b29f346faf]"Nah, thanks all the same. I'd rather... bunk out in Big Red for a while. If you don't mind?"[/i:b29f346faf] He looked back at her, determination in his gaze. She nodded once.

[i:b29f346faf]"Then, if you're willing, will you drop me at the Gabriella? I have to tell David about his brother."[/i:b29f346faf] She dreaded this next task. It was going to put a serious bump her plan until she got her manager over his grief, but she thought she could ease him through it with a touch more of her attention. A couple of supplemental feedings would probably get him where she needed him to be.

After all, she [b:b29f346faf]knew[/b:b29f346faf] where Tyler was likely to be and it was time to beard the lion cub in his den. She wanted his signature in blood and she was going to make sure she got it. The smile that graced her lips was a touch on the nasty side.

[i:fc5457ec78]"Sir?"[/i:fc5457ec78] Tyler grunted his attention to the hesitant secretary's voice and continued to read the casino's report on the man they'd caught cheating. [i:fc5457ec78]"There's a...::pause::...Miss Swan to see you. Says she has a prior appointment with you?"[/i:fc5457ec78] The Ventrue looked at his intercom as if it had suddenly grown two heads on it.

She wouldn't dare, he thought, then reversed his opinion. She would. [i:fc5457ec78]"Send her in."[/i:fc5457ec78] He snapped the order, then leaned back in his chair and swiftly assessed the situation. Its was his turf she'd entered and he could counter anything she might try. He was glaring at the door when it opened and a stunning vision slunk in.

The sheath that covered her, barely, rode high on the thigh, was clingy and shaded a dusky rose. The cleavage would have had any man drooling in less than sixty seconds. The moon-dusted hair was piled in an elegant coif and a simple circle of lustrous pearls encircled an elegant neck made for kissing. Tyler was struck by a hazy image of a silvery veil and a line of bare shoulders' arcing in ecstasy above him.

Impish green eyes carried laughter in them over a white mink mini-stole that somehow managed to keep it's perch. [i:fc5457ec78]"What do you want?"[/i:fc5457ec78] he snarled and was instantly awarded a luscious pout from rose-bud lips. [i:fc5457ec78]"Why, is that any way to greet an acquaintance, dear boy? Besides, the feud is ended."[/i:fc5457ec78] She found a seat on the corner of his desk, which promptly caused her dress to hike itself another inch upward.

[i:fc5457ec78]"Do tell?"[/i:fc5457ec78] He strove for nonchalance and made it by the skin of his teeth. [i:fc5457ec78]"Yes."[/i:fc5457ec78] Suddenly her eyes went blank and the voice flat, sending a sharp chill down the Ventrue's spine. [i:fc5457ec78]"Finn's gone. Ashed. Likely by Emery or someone he paid to do it. It took me hours to calm his brother."[/i:fc5457ec78] A flash of sadness came and went so quick, Tyler wasn't sure he'd seen it. Then the charm flooded back and nearly had him panting.

[i:fc5457ec78]"Now,"[/i:fc5457ec78] she leaned over and reached to loosen his tie, [i:fc5457ec78]"about that contract you promised me..."[/i:fc5457ec78] He let her hands start unknotting and glared at her, more from his lack of control over his reaction to her, than to what she was doing. [i:fc5457ec78]"How did you track me down?"[/i:fc5457ec78] His own voice carried a hint of warning to the singer.

Namaria pretended to a shock at his lack of enlightenment. [i:fc5457ec78]Why, Sugar,"[/i:fc5457ec78] she crooned at him, [i:fc5457ec78][b:fc5457ec78]you[/b:fc5457ec78] told me yourself!!"[/i:fc5457ec78] she grinned triumphantly and it hit him just exactly when he'd boasted of his position, here, at the Gabriella. He frowned hugely and sat forward in his comfortable executive's chair. Ok, if she wanted to play games, he mused, he might just as well see if he couldn't get one up on her.

And, perhaps, soothe away some of his simmering rage at his recent captivity and abuse. Finn was MIA and Kahn wasn't around to vent on either, but Miss Sexuality had walked right into his hands. It began to feel like things were finally going to be going his way and a flower of smugness bloomed in his soul.

Sensing victory, Aria smiled coquettishly at Tyler. The Ventrue smirked back at her and prepared to make her sweat blood.

OOC(is it ok if i join?)


Marsk stood and looked out of the man-hole he lifted up taking in the sites and smells this city had to offer. His sources had told him a Nicktuku was somewhere in this city. He was determined to dig to any depths to find it. He crawled out and looked around. He climbed up a ladder to the rooftop levels and began to make his way around. If a Nicktuku was around fist he would need to find a local Nosferatu and he had no idea wher to find them but anoter kindred might. He began hopping away, a shadow moving silently towards its target.

((More than welcome Nightjaw, just one teeny thing. Everyone in the thread is a young Kindred, no older than 15yrs as a Vampire. ie we're all pretty weak. Marsk might be too powerful as he is?

((I will change is age, for tellin me))

After eavesdropping many conversations Marsk had found out that there was a Ravnos in the city. He would of rather met a a fellow Nosferatu but Ravnos would do. This "Kahn" as he was known may not know where the Nicktuku was but as a Ravnos he could put him onto other kindred who knew more. Marsk rubbed his slightly horned fore-head pondering what he would need to do in exchange for the information. He had heard he had a pet mouse or rat and these were the neighbours of the Nosferatu. Marsk dived into the sewer sludge and began his search for a rodent or creature that may now the companion of the Ravnos.

((may I ? sorry I cant resist ...its kay come a calling!


[i:5fcb056e26]" Miss Belvadere what a pleasure to see you once again....may I ask what is your pleasure tonight?"[/i:5fcb056e26]

A smile passed kathy's lips as she pecked the concierge on his cheek.

[i:5fcb056e26]" carlos a pleasure as always....is he in.....and I don't mean Gabriel"[/i:5fcb056e26]

Carlos looked slightly agitated and kathy grinned.......Tyler obviously had company of some sort...oh what fun.

Gabriel......such was the life they led now they hardly ever saw each other ....a brief phone call once in awhile and the odd email when he felt the need......he had being different since......

[i:5fcb056e26]" Kay.......hey girl looking good ....damn good to see you again ....it's being a long time "[/i:5fcb056e26]

Trevor one of gabriel's minders picked her up and swung her around as he greeted her.

[i:5fcb056e26]" Trevor it's good to see you too.....do you mind if you put me down now"[/i:5fcb056e26] Kathy laughed as he gently deposited her back down.

He looked her up and down and smiled at the vision in front of him. She seemed to have cast of the suits and gone for a more casual dress of jeans and tight pole neck jumper.....although kathy was quick to point it they were versace as she caught his eyes scanning her.

Kay walked through the club and smiled at acquaintances and nodded at so called friends......what was this without him .....nothing thats what ......she would gladly give up everything she had as long as she could have him back as he once was.

[i:5fcb056e26]" ummmm Miss Belvadere....Tyler has company with him at the moment ....maybe if you wait 30 mins or so"[/i:5fcb056e26]
Kathy looked at him in mock horror.

[i:5fcb056e26]" Wait? I wait for no-one"[/i:5fcb056e26]

He stepped aside as she threw him a disgusted look and he shrugged his shoulders as the door was unwielding under her touch then all of a sudden it gave and she walked in.

[i:5fcb056e26]" Hi honey I'm home! come out come out wherever you are!"[/i:5fcb056e26]

Kathy' eyebrows raised somewhat at seeing the scantily clad female draped across what used to be Gabe's desk ....how he would have loved that.......if it had being kathy.
Maybe it was time to have some fun.

Not a word did she speak as she walked across the office floor ....Tyler's face said it all .....he was torn between Kathy intervening and the fact that he thought he could manage anything that was thrown a t him.


[i:6cfa125016]" tyler ......really .....who is this woman.....Gabriel would be most disappointed....perhaps you should go honey .......you are obviously a mistake........a big one at that" [/i:6cfa125016]
Her harsh words shocked Tyler....Kathy was never one to forget her manners...no matter what the situation.

Kathy retreated to what used to be Gabe's balcony as Tyler and the woman battled it out .

Her sole point of coming here was to find out where Gabriel was.....one minute they were the equivalent of cleopotra and caesar and the next .....well forgotten.

It was like they have never existed.....she blamed one person.......porter.......he was the one behind Gabe's escapades......but then Gabe never said no to a crusade/adventure so perhaps he was to blame as well.


((disregard the posts if you want ..i wont mind :) I just felt that if Kay was around she would be trying to find out what was going on :)

((Vicki -

She scoffed at his naive observation. "It's more likely to get you noticed, Ashe," she muttered under her breath, roaring flames and tumbling rubble hiding her comment. "Move," he hissed in her ear as the local denizens poured out of anonymous buildings to gawp idiotically at the night's entertainment. Nodding she moved off in a low crouch towards the huge 4x4 pickup truck she'd `obtained' for their use. The car was parked at the end of the street that was quickly filling with kine gazing at the destroyed building. She had snorted derisively at the crudeness of Quicksilver's methods. Bobbi had never been much for simplicity. There were far subtler, and subsequently more complex, ways of taking down a building and ensuring that any who were in it at the time were taken down with it. They reached the end of the low wall that was covering them from the crowd. She stood and hurriedly joined the throng of kine staring with disbelief at the ruined converted warehouse. "Just stick close to me and we will get out of here without being noticed," Quick breathed in her ear. She nodded and took a flanking position as he weaved his way through human traffic towards a red camper van that had pulled haphazardly in the way of the 4x4. Bobbi stopped as three figures burst out of the monstrosity of a vehicle and charged towards the flaming ruins of the building. She grabbed hold of Quicksilver as he, affected by some unknown force, started to make his way with the surge of people heading towards the ruins. Bobbi, one of logic and reason, fought against the low level suggestion and dragged Quick towards the vehicle.

* * *

A contract wasn't finished until every aspect had been completed. Part of that was informing your client of the success of the job, and collecting the cash. The client, Quicksilver had explained earlier, was the dangerous one. The client knows what you are to do, how you are to do it and when you are going to do it. With enough resources the client has the power to stop you and even worse, decline to pay you. Their client, to take out the Gangrel, was a vampire called Emery. Quick demanded half payment before the deed was done and the final amount no later than three hours afterwards. They'd received $40,000 from a waif of a blonde woman earlier. Now was the time to cash in. Bobbi pulled up in a side street, several miles from the remnants that verified the task had been done and handed Quicksilver his phone. "He'd better be dusted, Quick," Bobbi said, as worried expression washing over her face. "Emery isn't a leech to fuck with." "The deal was to blow up the building Bobbi, with the Gangrel inside," he said grinning as he swiftly keyed in a number from memory. A mischievous smile caught her lips as he pressed the dial button. "Nobody said anything about killing him."

((Mine -

He expected the impact upon his chest, to be somewhat more explosive. When the bomb had rolled, fuse hissing like a pissed off tomcat, to his feet. He closed his eyes, accepting what was coming. However, what came was somewhat different to the explosion he awaited.

Two powerful hands thrust him backwards, spilling him head over heels and dragged him into the bathroom.

“Get in the bath ya dumb shit!” He barely got a glance at his rescuer, his vision suddenly obscured as she threw a long kevlar jacket over the both of them, the steel bath shielding them from the catastrophic eruption that followed suit.

“Who are you? What’s going on?”

“Shut the fuck up!” Her slender hand shot out, clubbing him with the butt of a pistol.

She stood, wreckage burning around the miraculously intact bath, pulling his unconscious form through the rubble and smoking debris.

The car skidded away, two blocks down the street. Finn stirred in the front passenger seat. He opened his eyes groggily and looked weakly up at his saviour. She sat silent. Her almost white, blonde hair pulled tautly back from her eyes, a cigarette hanging from her lips. She twisted the steering wheel to the right, inertia pushing him into his seat. He squinted at her, his blood filled left eye following the thin, waif-like line of her figure. She wore black. Black army boots, black combats. And a black vest top. It looked somehow out of place on her, her almost stick thin body seemed to jut from the sleeves like spines. Yet, she [b:3e980d6c96]was[/b:3e980d6c96] beautiful. In a ghostly kind of way.

And her eyes.....those eyes. So blue. So pure.

Her eyes turned, briefly to him. Her right hand took the wheel, holding the car steady. Then her left hand punched him in the temple, knocking him out cold.

+++

The smell was the thing that woke him first. It was a scent evidently familiar, undeniably feminine. The warmth around him made him nuzzle into the scent’s source. His head felt muddled, clouded. But it didn’t trouble him. All he cared about was staying in this place. Something warm pulled him closer. A breathy female voice cooed him, lulled him.

“It’s okay, little corbie. You’re safe now.”

“Tapestry?” He whispered hoping.

“Yes lover, it’s me. I’ve come back to you.”

He smiled then drifted back into slumber.

She looked up as Blue Eyes stalked into the apartment. The walls hung with torn wallpaper, cracked, damp stained plaster gave the room a sickly glow. The low light, smell of stale urine, mould creeping through the floor boards and the scatterings of used needles added to the atrophy the Kindred had elected to inhabit.

Nix smiled, she looked down at her sleeping captive and started grinning. Lighting a cigarette she spoke harshly, the cigarette dangling from her dry bottom lip.

Blue's mouth opened as if she was going to speak, the cell phone ringing gave her pause for thought.

Night jaw jumped down from the roof top he had been conversing with the local vermin with, he had been told by one of the rats that this "Kahn" had been here recently. He looked in his pocket. one of the rats had come with him to direct him. He looked down and winked at it. It winked back. he coughed up a wad of phlegm and laughed. "this is gonna be intresting". he took off again.

Tyler followed the sultry Toreador's agitated swagger, nonplussed. As she made her way onto the balcony, it was all the young Ventrue could do not to call security and have her thrown out onto the streets, and put an end to this melodramtic soap opera of a night.

Cracking his neck, he stood and met Namaria's confused gaze.

[i:0fe5f2165b]"It's the old man's wife."[/i:0fe5f2165b] he offered, grinning coyly. The singer looked unconvinced and cocked an immaculately crafted eyebrow.

[i:0fe5f2165b]"Something you need to deal with?"[/i:0fe5f2165b] it was an accusation.

Tyler glanced over his shoulder. Thin, satin curtains waved languidly in the thin stream of air the open balcony door allowed in. Beyond the curtains, the plainly feminine figure stood silouhetted against the warm lights of the city.

He turned his attention back to his guest and leaned in.

[i:0fe5f2165b]"Nah. Fuck her."[/i:0fe5f2165b] he hissed, his thin lips pulling into a sly grin. Namaria stepped away, pacing Tyler's darkened office.

[i:0fe5f2165b]"That's what I thought. So...about this contract..."[/i:0fe5f2165b]

[i:0fe5f2165b]"I'll happily offer you our standard contract...that is a two month performance obligation. Ten grand and a cut of the house."[/i:0fe5f2165b] he slid into his chair and pivotted to follow her movement.

Namaria's eyes flashed dangerously.

[i:0fe5f2165b]"Ten grand?! I'm not some yokel singing showtunes up there!"[/i:0fe5f2165b]

[i:0fe5f2165b]"Of course not!"[/i:0fe5f2165b] he opened one of the great wooden drawers on his desk, and began ruffling through various items, [i:0fe5f2165b]"So tell me, what would make you happy?"[/i:0fe5f2165b]

((no worries Kay, Tyler will be out in a minute!

sorry for the overall shitty quality of the post, been awhile since I've written anything!

There were rules when doing business with him was that when it came time to pay him, he contacted you, and for your own sake, you'd better be there, exactly when he said for you to be there. Rule two was that you came in person and alone. Rule three was that you never, ever, tried to cheat him.

Gleaming red eyes looked intently at the door as they waited. Bobbi's hand came up to point at one of the customers that came in, but Quick's hand caught hers. "I know," he whispered softly. It was the second bit of muscle that had quietly taken up position in the bar since they had put in the call, and frankly, it was pissing him off, because he could see the writing on the wall. Emery was going to try to cheat him.

That however, was not exactly what bothered him. What bothered him was the fact that Emery was not only going to attempt to cheat him, but more the fact that he thought so little of him that he had, so far, only brought in a few goons.

At long last, Emery walked in and sat at Quicksilver's table, looking considerably less nervous than was the usual norm for a client. "You said the job was done," Emery said softly, his eyes gleaming dangerously, "Do you have any proof that the gangrel is dead?"

Quicksilver slowly took off his sunglasses and settled his red eyed gaze on Emery, "I blew up the building with him in it. The news reports are your proof, as to whether he is dead or not, that is really not my concern. The terms of the contract were very specific, and I do not go beyond a contract," he said, not showing Emery any sign that the dim lights of the bar were hurting his eyes.

"You arrogant fucker, you were suppo..." Emery began, but Quicksilver cut him off, his left hand near a pocket where he concealed one of the big handguns, anticipating the inevitable assault by the thugs that would shortly be moving towards him. "No, I told you, my terms are NOT negotiable, and neither are my rules. You broke the rules Emery."

Bobbi knew that was her cue, and pressed the call button on her cell phone. At the same moment, in the fuse box, a telephone receiver picked up the call and would have rang, had the ringer not been disconnected and a detonator to a small explosive device been wired in its place. The fuse box exploded, shutting off security cameras and plunging the bar into utter blackness, potentially leaving Emery's goons blind, but not Quicksilver.

It always happened so fast when it came down to this. Quick's reactions were reflexive, almost unnaturally fast, his guns appearing in his hands and pointing at the silhouettes he saw coming towards him in the blackness. The first of his shots missed, but the second struck true, the mercury filled bullet impacting with the forehead in a bloody explosion as the thug dropped into a pile of grey ash and unrecognizeable bone fragments. At the very same moment, Emery lunged across the table, going straight for him, but finding only air as Quicksilver kicked the chair out from beneath his own body and hit the deck, spinning in time to take a knee shot at the other thug coming their way, the resultant mercurial explosion taking the better part of the vulnerable joint out and effectively severing the knee, dropping the vampire, and his head, right down into line with the next shot.

Now all that needed to be taken care of was Emery, but it very quickly became apparent that Emery had similar ideas about him as he felt the three solid thuds in his chest in rapid succession, the bullets promptly stopping on the metal backed kevlar he always wore under his heavy coat and shirt. Reflexively, his sidearm came around and he came up firing wild, the bullets tearing a few glancing hits into Emery's arm, but not doing the serious damage that the vampire killing bullets were designed to do. Instead, all they did was cause Emery to swear loudly and drop his nine. That did not however, prevent the monster from rushing Quick, a fist slamming home into the killer's stomach, before another came around, slamming into his face.

The gun dropped from Quicksilver's hand after another such shot connected with his jaw, forcing him to backpedal. Finally, an uppercut came in with such force that quicksilver slammed back into the bar, spilling drinks as he did.

OOC:: Where did this come from?!!

psh, why Vicki, you should know I'm prone to creative outbursts. You did bring me to this board in the first place, afterall.

Been [b:ea5a79ef7b]AGES[/b:ea5a79ef7b] since I've been here to the board. :) Glad to have received a notifaction of posting and had my day pick up. Heh. Keep going, guys, keep going.

BTW, nice pic, Nix. I like it. Might be a "softer" Nix pic but, somehow, it seems to suit you.

[b:ea5a79ef7b]HUGS!![/b:ea5a79ef7b]