[center][color=007236][img]https://i.imgur.com/HQAIbb9.png[/img][/color][/center] [center][@AtomicNut] [@Gentlemanvaultboy][/center] [hr] [u][i]Four days ago...[/i][/u] It had taken a day or two after the "Fallen One" had made the threat for Vernon to both think of an appropriate countermeasure... and then to gather the requisite courage to act it out. He strode into his father's office and fell into one of his chairs. [color=007236]"Father,"[/color] Vernon greeted the man. [color=007236]"How are things?"[/color] "Shouldn't you know? You really should keep up on matter pertaining to the family," the man's gruff, weathered voice came back. [color=007236]"I could have been asking about you."[/color] "And I'd give you the same answer," the man finally met Vernon's eyes. "I [i]am[/i] the family." [color=007236]"Fair enough."[/color] Vernon conceded with a shrug. If the family was doing well, his father was, and vice-versa. He could be dying of the flu and still be an optimist, so long as the family was doing well. He'd probably survive too. "Been meaning to speak to you. You ordered a shot to be taken in the middle of the city. Risky business, better have been worth it," the man once again lifted his eyes. Vernon swallowed. Oh good, already he was met with disapproval... this wasn't going to help things. [color=007236]"I needed to slow down an enemy. Cousin should have covered his tracks well enough, so we need not worry,"[/color] Vernon replied. [color=007236]"That... somewhat leads me to why I'm here."[/color] "That so?" His father set the busywork before his aside and folded his hand across the lavish desk before him. "Go on then." [color=007236]"You recall that cop, Alexander?"[/color] Vernon began. "The junior officer, yes. He's looked into you once or twice. What about him?" [color=007236]"I'm screwing his little brother."[/color] Well, no need to mince words after all. ". . . excuse me?" The man blinked rapidly, processing the words and probably attempting to suppress the accompanying mental images. "Are you... working on something?" [color=007236]"Sorry, not a huge fan of the man. That was more crass than necessary. I should say I'm dating him."[/color] "I. . . Are you serious?" [color=007236]"Oh, the relationship is quite serious, thank you for asking."[/color] The big man pinched the bridge of his nose, "Not what I was asking, though I suppose that answers my question regardless." He took a deep breath. "[i]Why?[/i]" [color=007236]"He's a funny little guy, what can I say. Couldn't stop myself."[/color] Vernon grinned. He smiled both at the thought of William and the humor of watching his father squirm. Also the try and quell the fear. Mostly that, actually. He'd be sweating bullets if his blood didn't run so cold. "And you tell me this... [i]why?[/i]" his father raised his voice, sounding quite aggravated. [color=007236]"Preemptive action. Better you hear if from me rather than someone else,"[/color] Vernon told him. "I see. And what are you hoping the results of this conversation will be?" His father seemed more calm now, but that only meant the gears of reprisal could turn more quickly. [color=007236]"Nothing. Precisely nothing. Someone else comes to you with this, you think I'm keeping secrets and harming the family, and so you act accordingly. Me? Well, then there's nothing for you to worry about. I have it all under control."[/color] If only, but that could be remedied long before his father had to lift a hand. Hopefully. "I've had a lot of people tell me they had everything under control. Most of them are dead now," his father glowered, eyes burning holes right through Vernon. "You're my son, but blood only gets you so far. Don't disappoint me." [color=007236]"Of course-"[/color] "You're in bed arm's length from the police, Vernon. The second I even have an inkling you're going to harm the family, I will bring true all those fears you were hoping to side-step, understood?" And Vernon could feel the whole room tremble. His throat grew tight. [color=007236]"Yes... father."[/color] Suddenly it was very hard to breathe. His father was an older man, but there was a reason he headed the family. His gut had long gone soft, but he had big hands with knuckles like knots on a tree. He shuddered to think of how many men those hands had choked the life out of. "Good." And suddenly the air of dread cleared the room. "Might as well go tell your mother then. I'm sure she'll be overjoyed to hear you've finally found someone..." he let out long breath. [color=007236]"Oh. Right."[/color] Vernon sighed as well. Of course she would be. This was gonna be a long day. [u][i]Present - One week after The Park...[/i][/u] Vernon walked through the courtyard at school. He was trying to be vigilant. William's biggest obsession and greatest enemy attended the school, after all. It may pay dividends to be alert. So far it hadn't, but anything could happen. He had a soft cooler slung over his shoulder like a messenger bag and a half-gallon bottle in his hand filled more with ice than water. He needed to stay cool to function so he liked to be well equipped. It was at that moment that a flier pretty much fell into his hand. [color=007236]"Training? Hm, that could be interest-"[/color] [i]Clang![/i] Vernon raised an eyebrow as suddenly someone swung off a light-pole to avoid falling to their death. Followed by the gym teacher. What? That... that mask. [i]W. H. A. T?[/i] Vernon's eye began rapidly twitching. Fallen One. Right there. [i]"Miss Maskono, do you require fire support?"[/i] He shook his head, coming back to reality at the sound of Bak Tsarevna's arrival on the scene. [i]Perfect.[/i] [color=007236]"Ah! Miss Tsarevna, it's good you're here! I know this masked fiend, they assaulted me and some friends not long ago, I assure you, fire support would be [i]just lovely[/i] right now."[/color] And then he lifted his hands and staring [i]icily[/i] at the "Fallen One." [color=007236]"I'll help."[/color] He spoke with just as much coldness. [color=007236][i]'I told you I'd remember that, you little bitch!'[/i][/color] he growled inside his head.