[hr][hr][i][h1][color=red]Meifeng Zhao[/color],[color=a36209]Abraham Gene[/color], & Jiao-Long Liu.[/h1][sub]Written in collaboration with [b][@Mr Allen J][/b][/sub][/i][hr]
[b][u]Oakdell Harbor, White Coast.[/u][/b]


No sight of Biyu.

That made Jiao-Long very worried. He [i]knows[/i] that Biyu would come here - because she loves her prized grandson. He could only shudder at what goals she has in mind for Honghui. Hopefully, he can stop her before she indoctrinates him into a loyal servant of Polaris, or the Family. He could shudder again... [i]Calm down... if Tabitha noticed, everyone will begin to get suspicious.[/i] Jiao-Long tried to reassure himself, and let out a sharp exhale.

Maybe she's upstairs, watching from above... And he really hoped she wasn't, because Biyu would have picked up on his body language.

After a brief greeting with a member of the Savior Foundation, Jiao-Long proceeded up the stairs of the ballroom. When he made it to the top, he briefly scanned the area - more specifically, the railing overlooking the dancefloor. Hm. He couldn't get a good sight of Biyu with all the people against the railing. He folded his hands behind his back, and walked along the railing.

Looking for his mother.

[i]... C'mon, Uncle. Keep it together.[/i] Meifeng thought to herself as she trailed after Jiao-Long from a distance. She could tell he was tense - everyone could - but if he doesn't break down, everything will go smoothly. Hopefully. Meifeng knew, from RAVEN, you would always have to be prepared for your plans, well, going to shit. A plan like this has a high risk for everything going wrong. Which is what Meifeng feared the most.

Jiao-Long passed by a large African-American male that looked so familar... but, he had to keep moving if he was going to find Biyu.

Abe slightly raised his eyebrow, somewhat frustrated that the man did not instantly recognize him, orhave a response akin to something like, [i]forgive his Shakespearean,[/i] "Egasp! Whyeth artest thouest herest this timest of dayeth" or whatever the fuck these posh pansies do nowadays. He put two fingers to his mouth, and made a shrill and brief whistle toward Jiao-Long.

That made Jiao-Long stop, and turn his head, while his eyes went wide at the guest. [i]Oh no...[/i] The words could only go through his head as Jiao-Long recognized the man. Abraham Gene. The son of one of one of his friends that has gone down a [i]very[/i] dark path. Jiao-Long knew him as a REAPER, and one of the worst in that organization. He should be searching for Biyu... but, clearly, Abraham wants to have a chat. Of course, of course. He has to blend in, of course.

"Oh, hello, Abraham, it has been a long time, yes?" Jiao-Long greeted him, praying to God that he didn't switch to the Family when REAPER fell.

Abe threw his hands up incredulously as he closed in on Jiao-Long. "What the hell, man?" He complained. "Can't believe you didn't notice me right off the bat! And after [i]how long[/i] we've worked together too."

That made Jiao-Long nervous... the fact that he's associated with this man brought him shame - but, that is the price he has to pay. "Oh, I am sorry," Jiao-Long softly answered. "There's just so many people here - long time friends, family - all here to celebrate my son's birthday."

He smiled meekly, trying to stay calm.

Abe got even closer as his face grew grim, and a finger was raised to eye level with Jiao-Long. "You [i]will[/i] be sorry."

Then Abe's face broke from its facade and he smiled a wide grin, and took his hand that was pointing at Jiao-Long's face and wrapped it around the man's shoulders.

"I'm playing!" He laughed. "A little old..." Abe looked around him for anybody in earshot. "...[i]REAPER[/i] humor, you know? Ignatius couldn't beat it out of [i]all of us.[/i]"

That's what made Jiao-Long terrified. He got the implication well. Ignatius... that man was a monster. Thank God Dr. Cross held his leash tightly. He couldn't say the same for the rest of REAPER.

"Don't be so loud... someone will hear you." Jiao-Long urged, only because he doesn't want to discuss such matters anymore. They are behind you. "I get the feeling you are here for a reason, Abraham... so, out with it."

Abe smiled at hearing his old colleague's [i]classic[/i] straight-to-the-point attitude. He could appreciate that in the man. "I would say [i]the Hands sends their regards,[/i] but that wouldn't fly well and I need you to cooperate with me. Besides, I left those bozos behind [i]long[/i] ago. They even tried killing me, can you believe that? [i]Assassins.[/i]"

"... They have a habit of doing that." Jiao-Long weakly answered. Well, the Hands assassins didn't do a good job, or else he wouldn't be here.

[i]Damn it.[/i]

Abe started picking at his nails. "Needless to say, I don't have to worry about any more of them coming for me. I'm also a, ah... [i]contractor[/i] for somebody else now. [i]Oh[/i], and I gotta ask! What's your relationship with the Zhaos? Don't worry man, you can tell me. They're not on the hit list, I just wanna know."

Should he risk telling Abraham about his personal tie with his sister's family? He didn't want to put them (Specifically, Lijaun) on the line, but, Abraham sounded like he knew something already 

"... That is my sister's family." Jiao-Long answered. "It's not a well-known fact because of my sister's... [i]secretive[/i] nature."

"That's what I thought!" Abe said triumphantly. "I [i]thought[/i] I saw some resemblance there! But it's honestly weird that the people I work for didn't pick up on that. You? You've been in the public eye all your life, so I guess I'll have to look into Zhao later on. Woah, okay, okay, I'm getting off track here."

"Please, I beg of you..." Jiao-Long pleaded. "Leave my sister out of this, she has nothing to do with this."

Abe took a deep sigh to straighten himself.

"Like I said," he continued, "you ain't gotta worry. But my [i]latest[/i] job requires me to get into [i]RAVEN[/i]. I wouldn't tell you this if I didn't think I can't, you know, [i]convince you--[/i]" Abe held Jiao-Long a little tighter, pulling the man in a little closer to Abe. "--To give me an [i]endorsement.[/i] I could probably get in just as easily without you, but as long we're being honest with each other, you'd help hurry that process up a little faster."

He wants into RAVEN...? Jiao-Long didn't know about this organization he's working for, but if they're willing to employ the likes of Abe. But, Jiao-Long wasn't going to budge. He was tired of being used by unsavory people to suit their own goals.

"... I refuse." He bluntly answered.

"My friend." Abe said simply. "You know what I'm capable of. Please don't make me persuade you. I actually [i]don't[/i] want to, because I'm not as evil as you convinced yourself I am. Hell, if [i]I'm[/i] evil, [i]you're[/i] evil. Darth freaking Vader. I was only an agent, and that was only for the pay."

Abe was correct; Jiao-Long is evil. While Abe was just a tool, Jiao-Long overseen many atrocities... and even benefited from them. He deserves jail time - but, what about his family? They would be thrown to the hounds along with Jiao-Long. 

"... It is complicated, Abraham," Jiao-Long started off. "I only wish to distance myself from the Hands now."

Abe backed off from Jiao-Long, in hopes that giving him some space wouldn't make him feel so threatened.

"I should not have even mentioned my employers, but I did." He said. "So while I'm at it, they claim they're the [i]bigger picture[/i] kind of guys. Not Hands, not REAPER - RAVEN [i]isn't even their target.[/i] They just think it will go [i]a long way[/i] into helping [i]me[/i] accomplish what needs to be done."

Jiao-Long narrowed his eyes

"... and what is that? May I ask?"

Abe only smiled in response. "I told you enough, don't you think? I can't risk jeapordizing my assignment. I think [i]you[/i] owe me something now."

"... But, I never asked for this, I never asked for [i]any[/i] of this." Jiao-Long said, putting his foot down - metaphorically, and literally. "I owe you [i]nothing,[/i] Gene. You are just a self-worshipping thug. Nothing more, nothing less."

Abe narrowed his eyes and stared down Jiao-Long. Slowly, he felt one of his hands stiffen and crack as it turned into stone and he approached him. Staring him up and down, he raised his hands to inconspicuously straighten Jiao-Long's tie... and the stoney hand was around the knot, tightening it against his neck.

"Tell me," he said quietly, "who are you working for this time? Because if you're trying to protect someone... or say, I don't know... a certain [i]family[/i]..." Abe winked. "This isn't going to end well for you."

Jiao-Long knew that he couldn't be intimidated by Abe. That is REAPER's M.O after all. He was tired of being responsible for monsters. "We are stronger than you think, Abraham," Jiao-Long said. "I am not helping a REAPER join RAVEN on behalf of - what - another terrorist organization ready to blow the city to pieces?" He seethed each word.

Abe sighed a sigh of relief. They are stronger than he thinks. Well, that's about as close to an admission as he's gonna get. He nonchalantly said, "You know, that's really all I needed."

Pulling Jiao-Long closer by the tie, he tightened it against his neck even more. By doing so, he was able to lean in and whisper into the man's ear.

"Tell me what you know about the Founding Family before I kill you right here, and then, when you can't do anything about it, make sure your little boy doesn't meet eight."

Honghui... Jiao-Long knew that he couldn't exchange his son's life in exchange for his pride. Abe will do it, too. REAPER is taught to be monstrous as possible. He would gladly give up his own life in exchange for one of his children... but, can he gaurantee someone could stop Abe? 

He let out a sigh, and told Abe [i]exactly[/i] what he thought of the Family...

"... They are a bunch of vain, narcissistic, egomaniacs that deserve nothing less than having their empire pulled from under them, [i]no[/i] different from you." Jiao-Long said. "But... I will give you your damn reccomendation - just get the hell out of here, and never show your face to my family again." He grit his teeth.

Abe rolled his eyes at Jiao-Long's insult, but he let the man go and straighened his suit and his tie up nicely as he forced a smile on his face, deactivating his power and setting his hands on his hips. The whole damn thing never had to happen if Jiao-Long had just been [i]honest[/i] from the start!

"See, Mr. Liu? That wasn't so hard, was it?" Abe said proudly as he patted the man's back. "We're on the same side, we want the same [i]things![/i] You should've trusted me from the beginning! Some things [i]change[/i], and so do [i]we.[/i] We're the good guys this time! This whole affair could've gone to the side if you knew how to take a hint."

"... Good... [i]guys?[/i]" Jiao-Long repeated the words like they were [i]foreign[/i] to him, because of decades of guilt. He could only sigh. "Look... I'll be honest here, the Family is asking for something I [i]can't[/i] give them. I want them out of my hair as much as you - your employers - do. So... I'll give you the recommendation."

"Don't you worry, Mr. Liu. I was bluffing." Abe revealed somberly. "Your kid reminds me too much of my brother. I wouldn't even hurt him."

".... Hey." A voice interrupted their conversation, as Meifeng Zhao stood before them. Finally having enough of her uncle being man handled by this brute. She put her hand on her hip as she looked down Abe with narrow eyes. "... What is going on here? Uncle, are you okay?"

Abe heard a voice from behind him. Jiao-Long's niece, apparently. The Hero of Prague. He turned around optimistically and greeted her with a wide smile.

"Oh, he's good. You should know that your uncle's [i]a good guy.[/i] Never better, even!" Abe declared as he passed Meifeng to return downstairs. He shot an appreciative glance and a thumbs up at Jiao-Long as he went down. "We're [i]both good![/i] Nice dress by the way! It shows off your legs! Ciao!"

"... Okay, that was a little weird."  

Meifeng scratched her head, before she turned to her uncle, and walked over towards him. [i]"Uncle,[/i]" She said in Chinese. "[i]Who was that man? Family?[/i]"

At this point, Jiao-Long was distraught. All he wanted was for Honghui's party to go well - but, while Abe was a vicious man who deserved to be put down... there was also that sentiment that Jiao-Long deserved the same fate. Forced or not, he was a major player within the Hands, and is just as guilty as the likes of Eliza, or Dr. Cross... He should be even more guilty that his sister ([i]and[/i] her daughter, who was notorious for hating the Hands) were so willing to forgive him just because they are [i]family[/i].

Hmph.

He's going to drag down hers, [i]and[/i] his own.

Letting out another sigh... but, long as Abe gets what he wants, he should leave his family alone. All Jiao-Long could do was hope his organization's plans weren't as sinister as he feared.... He knew that, in this world, hope could only get you so far. Jiao-Long is a man of his word, Abe has the endorsement. For now... Jiao-Long was going to keep his mouth firmly closed to Meifeng. 

"... [i]He is just an old friend of mine, my niece.[/i]" Jiao-Long answered. "[i]We... have disagreements, but it's all been patched up. As usual.[/i]"

He tried ile, but there was only one thing that was on Jiao-Long's mind now.

"[i]Hurry, go back to what you were doing before someone gets suspicious...[/i]"

Meifeng put her hand on her hip, and gave him an aside glance.

"... [i]Uncle,[/i]" Meifeng groaned, facepalming. "[i]You have a [/i]terrible[i] poker face.[/i]"

To that, Jiao-Long couldn't answer, but Meifeng knew that she won't be able to get a straight answer out of Jiao-Long. She saw him gripping up Jiao-Long and getting pretty angry... and angrier than what "old friends" should be. She was suspicious of that man, but she has bigger fish to fry: Biyu.

"Alright... I'll get back to work," Meifeng put her hands behind her head, and stepped off - before briefly looking back at her uncle. "... Just give me a shout if anyone's bothering you."

She walked off.

Abe sat himself down on a comfortable chair at a table off to the side of the ballroom. Still in the crowd, yes, but it put him in the position to watch and jot down whatever notes he needed on... ah, [i]key individuals[/i] too. Namely Jiao-Long. Abe wanted to be sure he wouldn't double-cross him. He would totally understand if he did, he had no hard feelings, but business was business. If Mr. Liu double-crosses him, then he needed to be taken care of. Sure, there'd be complaints from whining damsels, such as "I can't believe you killed my husband", or "dad", or maybe he wouldn't kill Jiao-Long, but... [i]compromised his ability to interfere[/i]. But what can he say? Abe didn't make the rules. That's just how it goes.

He took a sip of his champagne and leaned back into his seat. Hopefully this night will pass with nothing going wrong. Now, that isn't to say he was hoping for a quiet night. If he could score it with one, or hell, [i]two[/i] ladies, then that'd make the champagne [i]much[/i] more fun.