[COLOR=0054a6][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]T O B I A S   E V A N S:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][sup][COLOR=silver]Friday, April 07, 2017 - 11:13 PM | [i]De Vitis Warehouse - The Wharves[/i][/COLOR]
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The storm raged on as Tobias soared higher into the night. And though he couldn't feel it physically, his projected consciousness could easily make out the gloomy coldness that had clung to Crescent City of late. He stopped climbing at just over the mile mark, taking a moment to scan the city below. It felt angry. Between the buffeting storm, the blaring sirens and the newly erupted fires to the north, Tobias could sense the burgeoning despondency that was beginning to grip the metropolitan triad. A faint [i]*knock knock*[/i] tugged at his attention from below. Tobias rolled his eyes with a sigh, [color=0054a6][b]"Not even five minutes?"[/b][/color] He quizzed to no one in particular. The knocking sound came again but this time much louder and far more intrusively, sharp stabs of pain began to prickle behind his eyes. Begrudgingly, the connection to his Illusion was severed and Tobias gasped slightly as the rush of returning to his physical body overwhelmed him. He lurched forward in his high-backed leather chair, having been fully reclined earlier with his feet perched upon his desk. It took a moment to catch his breath.

The knocking came a third time with a renewed urgency that only succeeded in worsening his mood. [color=0054a6][b]"Alright! Give me a moment!"[/b][/color] He snapped, a figure shifted on the opposite side of the door to his office. The pain behind his eyes had flourished by now, spreading towards his temples. He rubbed a hand over his forehead as a means to stem the coming headache, whilst simultaneously yanking his desk draw open with the other in order to locate the familiar white bottle of pain medicine that he'd increasingly begun to rely on. The rattle of pills against plastic denoted his success, before he quickly thumbed the lid resulting in a soft [i]*pop*.[/i] With a series of short jolts, Tobias poured two Advil capsules into his outstretched hand, which he'd removed from his forehead, and then rapidly palmed them into his mouth. He repeated the process again, swallowing the first set of pills, before washing the second lot down with a half-consumed glass of Ron Zacapa XO that he'd swiped from his desk.

Tobias fell back into his chair and breathed, relishing the feeling as the concoction of alcohol and medication swiftly traversed its way to his stomach. 400mg of Ibuprofen was probably overkill for a headache but it was less than the recommended [i]'safe limit'[/i] and it had worked to stave off Mind Burn before now, especially given the level of stress he'd been under in the last twenty-four hours. [color=0054a6][b]"Come in."[/b][/color] He said to the door.

It opened slowly and a heavy set man, dressed in black, entered tentatively. [b]"Sorry to dis-"[/b]

[color=0054a6][b]"What have I said about knocking?"[/b][/color] Tobias interrupted. He could feel his face settle into his trademark scowl of contempt. The man, one of his assigned bodyguards, cast his eyes toward the old wooden slats that made up the floor.

[b]"Don't knock too-"[/b]

[color=0054a6][b]"Precisely. So why must you insist on banging my door down like a [i]goddamned[/i] gorilla every time you need me for something?"[/b][/color] The man stayed silent this time, unable to find the right words to say in order to ease the situation. For all his brawn, he certainly didn't make up for it where his brain was concerned. Tobias maintained his scowl, allowing several awkward seconds to pass before urging his guard to divulge the news. [color=0054a6][b]"Well then. What is it now?"[/b][/color]

[b]"It's Lucio, boss. He's downstairs."[/b]

[color=0054a6][b]"Lucio?"[/b][/color] Mention of that name had surprised him for sure. Until that moment, Lucio had widely been considered dead at the hands of the Fierro Family during a deal gone south. The same deal that had kept him awake for the last day or so, trying to issue damage control measures. [color=0054a6][b]"Bring him up."[/b][/color] He ordered.

[center]____________________[/center]

Moments later the guard returned with a rain-soaked man in tow. Tobias analyzed him. His shirt was missing beneath his long coat. It didn't take long to realize that it'd been used help patch up at least three gunshot wounds. Diluted red streaks trickled down his torso as the cotton packing had become over-saturated with a mixture of blood and rain. Every other item of clothing was also similarly drenched, his dark, shoulder-length hair too, and he could see a tiny puddle forming beneath where Lucio stood as the excess rainwater-mixed-with-blood dripped from his being. He was shaking visibly.

[color=0054a6][b]"You look like shit."[/b][/color] He remarked.

[color=00aeef][b]"I've had better days."[/b][/color] Came Lucio's reply. 

Tobias looked to his guard. [color=0054a6][b]"Get him a change of clothes and a doctor, pronto."[/b][/color]

[color=00aeef][b]"No need for a quack, boss, I've seen one already."[/b][/color]

[color=0054a6][b]"Which would explain how you're still alive. At least have your bandages changed then, you're pissing out blood all over my floor."[/b][/color] He gave the puddle a disconcerting look, the idea of Lucio's dried blood in his office didn't exactly inspire excitement. The guard didn't wait for a reply and rushed off to call the nearest doctor on the De Vitis payroll. Lucio's beleaguered expression betrayed the tough act, he was quite clearly in pain and needed further medical attention.

[color=00aeef][b]"I guess you're right, nobody likes bloodstained floorboards."[/b][/color] He staggered forward as he said so, catching himself just before he fell. A moment of exhaustion overcame him. Tobias stood rapidly in response.

[color=0054a6][b]"Come. Sit down."[/b][/color] He said, beckoning to one of the chairs situated on the opposite side of his desk. As Lucio made his way to the chair, Tobias strode over to his drinks cabinet. He pulled out a tumbler and a bottle of rum, the same brand as earlier. Walking back to his desk, he poured two large drinks and offered one to his injured subordinate. [color=0054a6][b]"Drink this, you'll feel better."[/b][/color] The pair of them drank. [color=0054a6][b]"So this doctor, where did you find them?"[/b][/color] 

[color=00aeef][b]"Lonely Hearts."[/b][/color] Lucio answered, shortly after swallowing a large gulp. Tobias hardened his gaze at that.

[color=0054a6][b]"They're expensive."[/b][/color] He stated.

[color=00aeef][b]"I know."[/b][/color] Lucio looked down slightly, obviously expecting the backlash of using a doctor outside of the payroll. But he'd needed to lay low until he could get back to the relative safety of De Vitis territory and there was no better way to do that than an independent surgeon, one who's loyalties lie with none of crime organizations in the area. 

[color=0054a6][b]"And who else, besides this doctor, knows you're alive right now?"[/b][/color] He questioned, slowly sitting down in his chair and leaning forward on his desk.

[color=00aeef][b]"No one, except a strongman, as far as I know."[/b][/color] Lucio replied, looking back up to meet Tobias' inquisitive expression. [color=00aeef][b]"After the deal with the Fierro's went south in Lil' Santiago, I wasn't actually that far from Lonely Hearts. One of the strongmen we'd taken for protection, Tito, had also survived and helped me find a doctor. He left immediately after dropping me off and told me to wait for him to see if the coast was clear."[/b][/color]

[color=0054a6][b]"And where's Tito now?"[/b][/color]

[color=00aeef][b]"I'm not sure. He never returned, so he's either dead or the Fierro's have him locked up some place and are torturing him for information."[/b][/color]

[color=0054a6][b]"[i]Information?[/i] What information could a strongman possibly have that would be of any interest to the Fierro's?"[/b][/color] Tobias furrowed his brow, contemplating his own question and sitting back in to his seat.

[color=00aeef][b]"During the deal..."[/b][/color] Lucio paused, hesitant to say whatever came next. [color=00aeef][b]"The Fierro's kept asking about you."[/b][/color] A spark of anger and confusion flashed across Tobias' face as he sat bolt upright. But Lucio began to explain before he could say anything. [color=00aeef][b]"Well not [i]you[/i] specifically, but the man who'd setup the deal in the first place."[/b][/color]

[color=0054a6][b]"You mean to say that they didn't believe you were the one who set it up?"[/b][/color] Tobias quizzed, relaxing slightly.

[color=00aeef][b]"No. Whenever I tried to explain that I'd set it up, they laughed it off as if they [i]knew[/i] different. After I'd explained the third time, their leader pulled his piece and just starting blasting everyone."[/b][/color] Tobias mulled over what Lucio was saying, his earlier anger having subsided for now. A cool head was required now more than an angry one.

[color=0054a6][b]"Sounds like a rat."[/b][/color] He said after a few moments of thought.

[color=00aeef][b]"Impossi-"[/b][/color]

[color=0054a6][b]"Improbable? Yes. Possible? Entirely."[/b][/color] He stood up, downing his drink and slamming the glass against his desk, marking the varnished finish. Tobias then moved to his coat rack and donned a dark trench coat. 

[color=00aeef][b]"Where are you going?"[/b][/color] Lucio asked, a look of confusion plaguing his face.

[color=0054a6][b]"When the doctor is done with you, go get some rest. I'll need you in a few days."[/b][/color] He replied, ignoring the question as he made for the door to his office. He wrenched it open forcefully and strode through with purpose. The door closed behind him with a loud [i]*bang*.[/i]