[indent][b][u]11:34 PM - January 10th 2026
The King's Throne Bar, Downtown Gotham, Gotham City[/u][/b][/indent]

René picked up his third pint from the bar. He'd been waiting on Chas for some time now and it was already dark outside. Even with all of the capes running about Gotham was still a dangerous city at times. The longer he waited could be the difference between a late night stroll and a nighttime mugging. 

René took a swig of his drink.

It wasn't as though he couldn't handle himself- but he was old and the thought of fighting a younger man didn't sound like a fair fight. He was past his prime and thanks to age it was unlikely that his body would heal properly from any kind of hard beating..

He took another swig..

He wasn't Chas, he never was. That man was a monster in his youth... as well as an idiot. Age could make him weaker, but it couldn't touch his violent and daring nature to square up against anybody. Even to muggers and crooks.

And then another...

Chas couldn't be lying in an alleyway someplace, battered and bruised... could he?

René brought the glass to his lips, failing to notice before that its contents were empty.

He ordered another pint.


[indent][b][u]Same place, Same day... Some time later[/u][/b][/indent]

[color=E6E6FA]“Sorry I’m late Arnie, but you know how life is.”[/color]

The speaker took up the seat beside René, leaning on the counter as he moved. Chas was a man in his early 50s, he was a few good years younger than René and without the grey hair- or any hair for that matter. 

[color=F0E68C]“Late doesn’t cut it Chas, I’ve been here for a good quarter of a day wondering why I hadn’t already left.”[/color]

[color=E6E6FA]“No, no you’re right. I’ll make it up to you. A drink on me.”[/color] He gestures to the barman.

[color=F0E68C]“Make it three.”[/color] René states once his next drink arrives.

[color=E6E6FA]“I’m good for one.”[/color]

René sighs then downs half of the beverage in a few gulps. Chas waits impatiently, tapping his knee as he waits.

[color=F0E68C]“So what do y-”[/color]

[color=E6E6FA]“I have a proposition to make.”[/color]

[color=F0E68C]“You could have waited for me to finish.”[/color]

[color=E6E6FA]“I could have, but we both know I wouldn’t.”[/color]

[color=F0E68C]“Chas I haven’t seen you in half a decade, what makes you think that my impression of you is still up to date? Hell what am I saying, you haven’t changed since the eighties.”[/color]

Chas doesn’t respond to the remark. Instead, he continues to tap on his kneecap.

[color=F0E68C]“Fine. What are you thinking of?”[/color] René asks dubiously before reuniting the pint with his lips.

[color=E6E6FA]“It’s pretty simple. I want you back in the game.”[/color]

René pauses before placing the pint on the counter again.

[color=F0E68C]“I thought you said that you’d moved away from that kind of work.”[/color]

Chas’ eyebrows in confusion to the remark. [color=E6E6FA]“Really? When?”[/color]

[color=F0E68C]“Eight years ago. At your house.”[/color]

[color=E6E6FA]“How am I supposed to remember what happened eight years ago?”[/color]

[color=F0E68C]“God Chas, Vanessa was there. You lied to your own wife. Does she know you still do this?”[/color]

[color=E6E6FA]“She’d kick me out if she knew Arnie..”[/color] He sighs, [color=E6E6FA]“Look I have bills to pay and now a kid to feed.”[/color]

[color=F0E68C]“Since when did you have kids?”[/color] Now it was René’s turn to be confused.

[color=E6E6FA]“Three years ago.”[/color] Chas sighs, [color=E6E6FA]“We definitely need to catch up on lost time and all, but I’d rather have your response to my idea..”[/color]

[color=F0E68C]“No Chas. I moved on from the gang and what we stood for, what we did.”[/color] René stands up, [color=F0E68C]“Thanks for the drink but I should be going.”[/color]

René begins to head out of the bar he gets as far as donning his overcoat before Chas, still seated, perks up with a response of his own. [color=E6E6FA]“Well that’s too bad. I was hoping that we could settle this like friends, but I guess you’ve locked the crook away and forgotten all about him.”[/color]

[color=F0E68C]“What are you talking about?”[/color]

Chas doesn’t bother to answer and instead he continues his monologue, [color=E6E6FA]“We did a number on quite a few people Arnie. You can forget about it and play Doctor but those people, their families, they won’t forget what you did to them.”[/color]

[color=F0E68C]“What [i]we[/i] did to them Chas.”[/color] René corrects him.

[color=E6E6FA]“Same thing really.”[/color] Chas stands up from his seat. [color=E6E6FA]“Now if you don’t want me to reveal all of this to the poor, poor widows and children of who we hurt, then I recommend that you reconsider.”[/color]

[color=F0E68C]“Blackmail? Jesus Chas you’ve fallen to a new low.”[/color]

[color=E6E6FA]“It’s not like I’ll suffer if this comes out anyway. I know a few people who can erase me from the web.”[/color] Chas wiggles his fingers to emphasise this point, [color=E6E6FA]“In less than a day Chas can die and a new man can live, do I look like a Bernie to you? I feel like a Bernie.”[/color] he rambles.

René stares at Chas, no longer seeing a lifelong friend but instead an associate, one he’d be glad to be rid of.

[color=F0E68C]“Fine.”[/color]

[color=E6E6FA]“Fine?”[/color] teases Chas.

[color=F0E68C]“I’m in.”[/color]

Chas nods. [color=E6E6FA]“Perfect. Then I’d better introduce you to the gang, soon as well. We only have two weeks till the fireworks.”[/color]

[color=F0E68C]“Fireworks?”[/color] asks René.

[color=E6E6FA]“It’s a figure of speech.”[/color]