[hider=VOIDED] [center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/tRszFRgk/blade.png[/img] [hr][color=crimson][b][h3]ISSUE #7 FRIENDLY CONVERSATION[/h3][hr][u]City Streets New York City, New York[/u][/b][/color][/center] After our fight with the werewolf, the two of them led me to a panel van a block away from the subway. We got in, with Drake driving us away from the scene. I looked at the two of them from my seat in the back, careful not to make a peep. My enhanced hearing picked up on them whispering. [color=mediumseagreen][b]"I still think this is a bad idea,"[/b][/color] Drake mumbled. [color=tan][b]"Shut it. Quincy wants to talk to this guy, so we're taking him to the base,"[/b][/color] Helsing replied. [color=mediumseagreen][b]"I swear, if Quincy offers him a spot on the team..."[/b][/color] Despite myself, I let out a laugh. Drake skidded the van to a halt, turning to glare at me. [color=mediumseagreen][b]"What's so funny?"[/b][/color] [color=crimson][b]"Sorry, I just... Couldn't help but hear you two talkin'... Bahahaha!"[/b][/color] I pulled myself together, grinning at him. [color=crimson][b]"Say he did offer me a spot on your little team... What in the hell makes you think I'd say yes?"[/b][/color] [color=tan][b]"You were eavesdropping on us?"[/b][/color] Helsing started glaring at me as well. [color=crimson][b]"I didn't [i]mean to[/i], but yeah, I kinda was. Enhanced hearing and all that."[/b][/color] Shaking his head, Drake went back to driving. Seeing as the whole 'no talking' thing was out the window now, I decided to keep going. [color=crimson][b]"So how far are we from that base of yours?"[/b][/color] The two were silent. I snapped my fingers, and Drake, gritting his teeth, replied, [color=mediumseagreen][b]"Not very far."[/b][/color] [color=crimson][b]"So does that mean a few blocks, a few miles...?"[/b][/color] [color=mediumseagreen][b]"It means not. Very. Far."[/b][/color] [color=crimson][b]"Alright man, no need to get your panties in a twist."[/b][/color] I leaned back in my seat, grinning. [color=mediumseagreen][b]"Rachel, shoot him please."[/b][/color] [color=crimson][b]"Wait, hold your hors-"[/b][/color] [b][i]*BANG!*[/i][/b] [color=crimson][b]"SON OF A BITCH!"[/b][/color] The van continued driving into the night. [hr][center][color=crimson][b][u]Fifteen Minutes Later Bo's Arcade[/u][/b][/color][/center] We pulled up to this rickety old building, the faded sign reading "Bo's Arcade." I looked it up and down, almost disbelieving. [color=crimson][b]"You guys [i]seriously[/i] set up shop in a rundown arcade? That's the stupidest idea ever."[/b][/color] Drake glared at me, but didn't bother to come up with a response. Helsing simply ignored me and walked in through the front door, Drake and I following after her. [color=tan][b]"Quincy, we're back,"[/b][/color] Helsing called out while I looked around. Inside was definitely a different story from outside. Looked like they actually kept the place in good condition, facade aside. Having taken everything in, my eyes set themselves on the man in the wheelchair that had just rolled out. Despite myself, I gave a snort. Wheelchair guy, Quincy I'm guessing, raised an eyebrow. [color=darkkhaki][b]"What's so funny, Eric?"[/b][/color] [color=crimson][b]"I'm sorry, just..."[/b][/color] I looked at the three of them, grinning. [color=crimson][b]"We got a hotheaded pretty boy, a gruff and tough bitch, and they're led by a cripple. You're an original bunch."[/b][/color] I heard Drake's heartbeat and breathing pick up just a little bit, indication that he's getting pissed off... And then I heard the old man laugh, the sound defusing the situation before Drake and I could go at each others' throats. [color=darkkhaki][b]"Yes, I suppose we're a colorful cast of characters. But that isn't why I called you here."[/b][/color] [color=crimson][b]"Why did you, then? Gonna invite me to join your little crew?"[/b][/color] [color=darkkhaki][b]"Nothing of the sort. My name is Quincy Harker, and I called you here about your brother, Deacon Frost."[/b][/color] My cocky grin fell, giving way to a scowl at the mention of brother dearest. [color=crimson][b]"... What do you know about him?"[/b][/color] [color=darkkhaki][b]"Just what my contacts tell me. He's making a big name for himself among other supernaturals in this city. And he's also sticking his nose where it doesn't belong."[/b][/color] [color=crimson][b]"What's that s'posed to mean?"[/b][/color] [color=darkkhaki][b]"Have you heard of La Magra, Eric?"[/b][/color] He smiled at my clueless expression. [color=darkkhaki][b]"I thought not. La Magra is, to put it simply, the God of Blood, to which all vampires devote themselves... Or at least the most ravenous ones."[/b][/color] [color=crimson][b]"So my brother's gettin' religious, so what?"[/b][/color] [color=darkkhaki][b]"It's not just that. He's looking to bring La Magra to the human world, in order to take its power."[/b][/color] I let out a chuckle despite the gravity of the situation. [color=crimson][b]"Christ, what kinda shitty horror movie did I get myself into..."[/b][/color] Harker continued on, ignoring my remark. [color=darkkhaki][b]"He believes that he can defeat La Magra and take its power so he can rule over all supernatural."[/b][/color] [color=crimson][b]"That kinda power, you'd think he'd spring for world domination instead."[/b][/color] [color=darkkhaki][b]"Exactly. I called you here to see if you knew why he would do something like this instead of attempting to enslave all mankind."[/b][/color] Despite my smartass remarks, I knew exactly why. I recalled what Deacon had said on the roof... [i][color=powderblue][b]"You fool. I'm not going to rule them. I'm going to keep them in line. Once one has absolute power, no one would dare to question their authority. And those that do? They can be snuffed out."[/b][/color] [color=crimson][b]"What-*wheeze*-would you do-*cough*-with all that p-*gasp*-power, huh?"[/b][/color] [color=powderblue][b]"I would be content, living out the rest of my days knowing the balance is kept between supernatural and human."[/b][/color][/i] After a moment's hesitation, I replied to Harker: [color=crimson][b]"I fought him last night... He kicked my ass, but before he did that, he said something about keeping the balance between humans and supernaturals, and how with absolute power you can snuff out anyone who gets out of line."[/b][/color] [color=darkkhaki][b]"... So he wants to segregate humans and supernaturals? Noble ambitions, but less than noble methods."[/b][/color] [color=crimson][b]"Yeah, somethin' like that."[/b][/color] The conversation trailed off, silence hanging in the air for a few moments. Then, Harker spoke. [color=darkkhaki][b]"... I want you to help us with this."[/b][/color] Myself, Drake, and Helsing stared at him in confusion... Before both Drake and I started laughing our asses off. [color=crimson][b]"You think I'd want to hang around with that preppy dandy?"[/b][/color] [color=mediumseagreen][b]"You think I'd want to hang around with that cocky jackass?"[/b][/color] Drake and I began to argue then, the tension between the two of us finally mounting and exploding. The argument slowly devolved from creative insults to petty name calling in no time flat. Helsing looked amused, while Harker scowled. The old man slammed a hand onto the arm of his wheelchair, interrupting us. [color=darkkhaki][b]"ENOUGH! I don't care what quarrel you have with each other, we need to destroy La Magra before Deacon can attempt to take its power."[/b][/color] [color=crimson][b]"You said it yourself, old man. Deacon's got good intentions, even if he is an asshole. Let him do his thing, I'll kick his ass when the time comes anyway."[/b][/color] [color=darkkhaki][b]"That's what you don't understand, Eric. Have you heard the term 'absolute power corrupts absolutely'?"[/b][/color] [color=crimson][b]"What, you teachin' philosophy now?"[/b][/color] [color=darkkhaki][b]"If your brother gets hold of even a drop of La Magra's power, the Blood God's twisted nature would corrupt him completely. He wouldn't care about his plan. He would only care about wiping out humanity and keeping a select few as cattle."[/b][/color] [color=crimson][b]"Then I'll kick his ass before he gets a hold of it."[/b][/color] [color=darkkhaki][b]"Eric. I am simply requesting your help with this."[/b][/color] [color=crimson][b]"Oh, don't give me that lo-"[/b][/color] [color=darkkhaki][b][i]"Eric."[/i][/b][/color] Harker's gaze bored into my soul. I don't know what it was, but the look he gave me... It made me realize that there was much more at stake here than just my sibling rivalry with Deacon. After a moment of staring at each other, I finally averted my gaze and sighed. [color=crimson][b]"... When do we start?"[/b][/color] Harker smiled. [color=darkkhaki][b]"Meet us back here on Friday night, at eight o'clock."[/b][/color] [color=crimson][b]"You got it. Now..."[/b][/color] I turned my attention to Drake and Helsing, my trademark grin returning. [color=crimson][b]"How 'bout that ride home?"[/b][/color] [/hider]