[hider=VOIDED] [center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/tRszFRgk/blade.png[/img] [hr][color=crimson][b][h3]ISSUE #3 DUSTUP[/h3][hr][u]The Bloodbath New York City, New York[/u][/b][/color][/center] I sheathed my sword. Wouldn't want Mr. Fancy Pants over here to get hurt too bad, especially considering I had a rule about not killing humans. Beating their dumb asses up though? Fair game. [color=crimson][b]"So, Drake. You ready for this party to get crazy?"[/b][/color] Drake smirked, readying his shotgun. [color=mediumseagreen][b]"Ready when you are, monster."[/b][/color] I grinned, baring my fangs in an attempt to intimidate him. He simply shook his head, clearly not convinced that just maybe he should walk away. [color=crimson][b]"Well. This won't last three minutes."[/b][/color] I did a few wild jabs at the air, then ended with a simple come here motion. [color=crimson][b][url=https://youtu.be/JnhjWUepaE8?t=67]"Let's dance, pretty boy!"[/url][/b][/color] He fired the under barrel stake launcher at me again, but this time I was ready. I grabbed the stake right before it would have penetrated my chest and threw it to the ground, wagging my index finger in a "no no" gesture. Drake seemed to take exception to that, if the several shotgun blasts he sent my way were any indication. I tried to tank the blasts, though one of them managed to hit me square in the face and send me flying onto my back. I rolled around into a kneel, staring down at the blood soaked floor. Definitely gonna have to wash these clothes. [color=mediumseagreen][b]"Oof, right in the kisser. You're definitely gonna have to pay for sex from now on, bud."[/b][/color] I simply looked up, grinning as the meat on my face knitted itself back together. Drake's cocky smirk fell. [color=mediumseagreen][b]"... Or not."[/b][/color] [color=crimson][b]"Nice try, pal, but I take shit like this everyday. Practically part of my morning routine at this point. Wake up, shower, get stabbed, get dressed, get shot, eat breakfast."[/b][/color] I jumped up from the floor and sprinted at him, throwing a wild haymaker that I knew he would dodge; he didn't disappoint, so I got in close to sneak a quick body shot in with my left hand. Then I felt the cold metal barrel of his pump action pressed against my chest. [b][i]*KRRRRSH!*[/i][/b] The stake punched through my chest and out through the other side. I nearly fell over from the pain. Getting stabbed through the chest every other day is one thing. Having a hunk of wood punch through your torso at 300 miles per hour from point blank was another. I'm gonna have splinters in my lungs for weeks. [color=crimson][b]"Phew, okay, ya got me good that time Drake... Might need a breather..."[/b][/color] [color=mediumseagreen][b]"I knew you were no match for me, freak."[/b][/color] He raised the shotgun to finish me off... [color=crimson][b]"Breather's done!"[/b][/color] I batted away his weapon with my hand, then punched him in the chest. He soared through the air for a moment before crashing right into the DJ stand. The song stuttered for a moment before continuing, and Drake pulled himself up. He pulled a short sword from a sheath on his hip. [color=crimson][b]"Aw, what a cute little knife."[/b][/color] I pulled my broadsword out from its own sheath. [color=mediumseagreen][b]"Compensating for something there?"[/b][/color] Drake asked in the same cocky tone he had been using throughout our entire confrontation. I couldn't help but give a snort of laughter, though no more words were exchanged. Instead we rushed at each other, our blades crossing as we met. I pushed with all my strength, but somehow Drake managed to just barely keep up with me. Drake jumped back from the clash, and all the force I was putting into our lock made me stumble forward. He attempted to take this opportunity to impale me, but I ducked under the blow and brought my fist up into his jaw. He staggered back, so I swung my sword at him again. He just barely managed to deflect the strike, and we began to exchange blows that the other either dodged or parried. [color=crimson][b]"So, you get a call to come here?"[/b][/color] I asked as our blades locked yet again. [color=mediumseagreen][b]"Maybe I did."[/b][/color] He withdrew from the lock and swung at my leg, myself deflecting the blow and swinging right back at him. He blocked, and continued speaking. [color=mediumseagreen][b]"What's it to you?"[/b][/color] [color=crimson][b]"I got a call to come here too, dumbass,"[/b][/color] I said as we crossed blades yet again. I punched him in the gut and sent him flying a few feet back. [color=crimson][b]"Bet the guy who hired us didn't think we'd try to kill each other."[/b][/color] [color=mediumseagreen][b]"You're a hunter too, eh? The hell kinda vampire hunts after other vampires?"[/b][/color] He swung at me, and I parried the blow and grabbed him by the collar, lifting him off the ground. I sheathed my sword, still holding him. [color=crimson][b]"The kinda vampire who don't like them other vampires!"[/b][/color] I yelled, bringing his face just inches away from mine. [color=crimson][b]"Now, why don't we just knock this shit off?"[/b][/color] He stabbed me through the gut, but I no sold it, simply swatting his hand away from the sword's grip and yanking it out myself. I saw the look in his eyes, if only for a moment. He knew he was defeated. [color=mediumseagreen][b]"... This isn't over."[/b][/color] I let him go, then tossed him his sword. [color=crimson][b]"I bet not. How about we just stay out of each other's ways from now on, deal?"[/b][/color] He scowled, but nodded. [color=mediumseagreen][b]"Fine. But if we get into another scrape, I won't lose."[/b][/color] [color=crimson][b]"Whatever you say, Drake."[/b][/color] I cracked my back and wove him away. He picked up his fallen weapons and walked away. I heard the sound of a motorcycle pealing away from the sidewalk outside. [color=crimson][b]"Christ, what a prick..."[/b][/color] I left the butcher shop and headed back home. I'll go pick up my payment tomorrow. [hr] [center][color=mediumseagreen][b][u]Bo's Arcade New York City, New York[/u][/b][/color][/center] The drive back to base was quiet as always, just the way Frank liked it. It allowed him some time to reflect after a job, and this time he had much to reflect on. The vampire he met, the one who hunted his own kind, it was clear that he was no normal vampire. The man had said he was a Dhampir, half human, half vampire. He'd heard the term before, but it was entirely fictitious, the stuff of folk lore and bad dime novels. Children born from a vampire and a human became vampires themselves. Still, he could tank anything that would kill a normal vampire... He'd have to ask Quincy about it, the old man was well versed in these sorts of matters. He pulled up to their base, a closed down arcade they had bought a year back and repurposed into their headquarters. Frank walked into the building, looking around at the place. It was rather spartan, with a meeting table in the center, desks off to the right wall for himself, Quincy, and Rachel, and a weapons rack beside the desks. The rest of the place was styled as a living room, with doors to their rooms in the back. [color=darkkhaki][b]"Frank, you're back."[/b][/color] There was Quincy Harker, turning around in his wheelchair to face the younger man. Harker was in his early 60s, greying brown hair kept cut short and a bushy beard giving him an almost grandfatherly appearance. Frank smiled. [color=mediumseagreen][b]"Hey Quincy. Rachel around?"[/b][/color] [color=darkkhaki][b]"She's off on a job that came in while you were gone, bunch of imps took over the basement of an apartment complex."[/b][/color] Harker paused, taking Frank's appearance in. [color=darkkhaki][b]"... I take it your job didn't go well?"[/b][/color] Frank sighed, plopping into his recliner. [color=mediumseagreen][b]"You'd be right. Remember how the guy said he was gonna call another hunter too? Turns out that other hunter was a fucking vampire. We got into a fight. The thing is though, the guy's not a [i]normal[/i] vampire."[/b][/color] Quincy's curiosity was piqued by this. [color=darkkhaki][b]"What do you mean?"[/b][/color] The younger of the two snorted as he unbuttoned his vest and loosened his ascot. [color=mediumseagreen][b]"Said he was a Dhampir, half human, half vampire. Load of shit, those things don't... Exist..."[/b][/color] Frank stopped as he took in Quincy's expression. [color=mediumseagreen][b]"Uh, is there something you're not telling me, Quince?"[/b][/color] [color=darkkhaki][b]"... I believe you encountered the hunter known as Blade. The Daywalker, as our contacts have started calling him."[/b][/color] [color=mediumseagreen][b]"Anything I should know about this... Blade?"[/b][/color] [color=darkkhaki][b]"What he said was true. We have no clue how, but he is a Dhampir; all of the strengths of a vampire, none of the weaknesses."[/b][/color] [color=mediumseagreen][b]"Bullshit."[/b][/color] [color=darkkhaki][b]"You saw it with your own eyes, didn't you? I take it you tried to stake him, shot him with those silver pellets, stabbed him with your sword, and nothing?"[/b][/color] [color=mediumseagreen][b]"..."[/b][/color] [color=darkkhaki][b]"I'll take your silence as a yes."[/b][/color] [color=mediumseagreen][b]"Okay, but... How do we know this guy's on our side? What's to stop him from going on a rampage?"[/b][/color] [color=darkkhaki][b]"For now, let's just keep hoping he is on our side. Whatever you do, stay away from him until we know for certain. He's new to this scene, his intentions will be known soon enough."[/b][/color] [color=mediumseagreen][b]"He and I already agreed not to get in each other's way from now on... But Quince, one of these days we might have to take him down."[/b][/color] Quincy simply snorted. [color=darkkhaki][b]"I'm sure, Frank."[/b][/color] The rest of the night passed peacefully. [/hider]