Stryph

I dug it, thought it was cool but I'm one of those stereotypical Americans where if something happens outside of the US I don't know nuffin. So the movie was, to some degree, educational. That and some of the satire could easily be applied to the Bush Administration let alone, and I'm not one of them, conspiracy theorists.

Hami: B.Y.O.S (Bring Your Own Spoon)

:3

The room was dimly lit by candles and lamps. Four men sat at a table while various other individuals scattered throughout the room; two of which guarded on either end of one particular door down the hall way. All of them were wearing some variant of a tuxedo with their desired and favorite fedoras. White, black, or brown suits coupled with gray, white, or black hats. The seemingly popular four wore black with their white fedoras, playing a game of cards and bantering back and forth.

"Man Ben has been in there with that broad for who knows how long." Said one.

"Where'd you learn how to tell time? It's only been five minutes." Another replied quickly adding, "Three of a kind."

"Psh. I fold, frag that crap." Cards were tossed by a third onto the table towards the center.

The first smirked and perked up, "I'm in."

Finally the fourth broke his silence, "Same here... Royal Strait Flush, yeah buddy!"

Originally confident, the first sighed and slapped his cards on the table grumbling. "Goto hell."

"Haha," Retorted the fourth. "Speaking of... Grave what's it like?" Glancing off towards the entrance of the room, opposite end of their 'bosses quarters' a man dressed less fancy than the rest loomed.

Glistening rows of white teeth shinned, the glimpse was feral and the other three on cue looked over with a mix of confusion and slight terror. This man wore no hat, his hair was well kept but raven black - it was as though he greased his hair overly on purpose with super glue. Wearing a brown coat over a black button up shirt, he left it open and his pants were rugged khakis - anything but 'fashionable'. Thick black boots adorned his feet. Stout and rigid, the man stood with a sense of a carefree-impression, a professional that didn't take 'dressing for the occasion' too seriously. His skin seemingly glowed in the dim light, pale with a hint of blew in his cheeks; opac back veins tattooed both temples and extended down some before diving back under the meat of his dead-like cheeks.

"What's that supposed to mean Khan?" Grave answered, his voice hissed yet that grin was ever so present.

"Well word has it you 'dealt' with Shamus right?" The four eased up a bit allowing the fourth to clarify.

Grave nodded.

"Lot'a... rumors... going around as to how you pulled that off. Was it true?"

"Yeah man," Added the first, "Enjoy the fire works or something?"

Shrugging Grave canted his head to the left, letting his grin fade back and quirking his lips to the side. His lips were a weak purple more evident as more of his face came into the light. "What can I say, couldn't help but... keep him company while he burned to death."

"Sheesh. You got issues." Said the second shaking his head as the others chuckles softly.

"Ya know Grave, you keep pulling off stunts like that and someone is going to take notice." Khan muttered, his head lowered so that the bill of his fedora casted an eerie shade over his face. "Lot of people tend to pay attention when a guy burns himself alive and yet leaves unscathed... and then they find the remains of another."

"What're you worried about Khan, the white haired crusader isn't going to bother us. Not unless Ben is banging a succubus back there who has a penchant for human souls." Replied Grave shrugging dismissively.

"This is Dark Astoria, and a bored slayer for hire who basically calls this place his crib... well you stand out."

"So? Point is? I'll be fine, you on the other hand... well... hehe-he."

"Good ole'Grave, the bad Omen." The second intervened.

"Thank Ben for that, Pat." Grave muttered charismatically, smirking.

Chiming in the First shuffled his cards, "Hey, it was business. Ben told you himself baby, 'nothing personal' and all that jazz. Back then the Father Greg called the shots. Lets not..."

Khan nodded, though the four bowed their heads in respects to their fallen and he was quick to look over at Grave. "Why'd you come here anyways?"

"'Business'. Ya know the drill Khan. I speak to the head, not the pups of the litter." Replied Grave.

"Careful Grave, I don't know what kind of crap you pull and I sure as hell know Ben doesn't like your company either. Every time you come here he gets the hibi jibbies and you just waltz around like you're a Father yourself. You're getting a bad rep."

"So folks don't approve of my methods. I don't care, not like I give a fraggin' crap. Ben and I go way back, from a different Family. It's only logical we have our... 'agendas'." Grave held up his right hand, gazing at the skinned finger tips under fingerless gloves. Slowly he flexed and relaxed closing his hand into a fist and then releasing it.

"Speaking of," Pat motioned over to an unmarked box, "If you don't mind me asking, what's that crap worth. You brought it in right?"

Grave nodded and clucked in delight, "This is why I like you Pat, you go strait for the money."

Pat shook his head, "I'm flattered just... don't take me on a date into a furnace... ya dig? That's all I ask." Laying back in his seat he lifted both hands up to further emphasize the lack of offense.

"Think, Superdine but... a bit more potent. Trust me, once I get enough into circulation... trolls will be paying top dollar for it. And they should, after the amount of work and people I backstabbed to get my hands on it to begin with. Had to 'fake' becoming a cop just to oversee the transactions from a department's routine."

Grumbling Khan shook his head once more, "I don't even want to ask. As far fetched as it sounds, makes you all kinds of untrust worthy."

Grave rolled his shoulders, "I'm in it for the money, not letting some rebel squad amp theirselves up on this stuff or letting some do-gooders lock it away. I see profit... I take it and use it. Even... Ben approved."

"Ahhh," Khan sighs, "Like I said, I aint getting into it. Like you imply, it's money. More guns we get, the better we can defend ourselves from the Circle, Tsoo, or... hell even the Banished ones out there."

"Dark Astoria," Stated the first, "Perfect place to hide out as long as you got the means ot hold out. Right?"

Grave clicked his tongue to the left of his inner jaws, "Exact-o-mundo."


There was a groan and growl that came down the hallway towards Ben's quarter's when the double doors swung open he exited in a white tux and even had the decency to straiten his tie with a little pull and shake. "Grave, what I tell you about brooding in the corners baby?" The doors closed and swung back giving a brief glimpse of a woman laying naked under a sheet on the bed.

"I didn't feel like intruding." Speaking over and across, Grave smirked. The man was so well guarded that he easily conceived the image of one who didn't know how to put up if he tried. A great cover.

Ben, in his stride suddenly came to a stop glancing at the box and nearly gaping his mouth open in awe. "Magnificent!", Brown eyes gleamed as he spun to look Grave directly. "Samples of the fix eh? You tease, you know this game too well. I remember you were just a hitman... no wonder why Don For'Tel feared you, you were good with plans."

Grave watched the man's antics as he made his way from one end of the room to the other, "You're a fruit." He then proceeded to shrug absent-minded. "And that's what led him to... stabbing me in the back. Man saw a threat and sought to take me out in an effort of protecting his 'investments'. I applauded the man, quick, cunning... couldn't of done this without him." Pearl white canines gleamed from the dim overhead light.


"Exactly. We couldn't without him. Both of us, together concurred the Don." Nodded Ben approvingly and lifted one leg to set it on the box in triumph. His head lifted and he looked up seemingly through the sealing into something imaginary and far off into the distance. The man could feel the stars hugging him, bestowing their audience upon their performance.

"You didn't... I did." Smiled Grave innocently who was met with a slight glare.

"Sometimes... just sometimes I wished that bullet to your brain permanently put you down. But never the less!" Ben lightened his mood by smiling in accomplishment. "We are about to bank in and turn this place into a tourist town once more. We'll just chain the dead and put them in cages... an indoor circus!"

"Heheh, fine. Do whatever." Grave shrugged reaching into his coat and pulling out a cigar. Ben swooped over and ejected a zippo lighter which he, as Grave placed the cigar into his mouth, proceeded to cut the tip and set it a lite. "Course... the Preacher wont make things effortless either."

Ben paused and canted his head to the left, "What do you mean?"

"I know you tipped him off Ben. He was there, I watched. The shipment at the warehouse was fake assuming you were trying to double cross me. So I had to see for myself."

"My dear brotha' from another motha... and father I might add... legitimate father..." Ben reached over and placed an arm around Grave giving him a light pat on the other shoulder, "I would never come between you and 'our' business."


"Wait, Father Frederick? The hell is the Preacher of Truth..." Khan looked at Grave and shrugged, "Oh right.... You're easy to notice." He snickers softly shaking his head. "Great, now we got some perverted-holly-cross bearer sticking his nose in our business."

"Bah," Ben remarked releasing Grave, "The Priest isn't too much to worry about." Looking once to Khan, Ben turned his attention back to the former. "Grave, I assure you I will get to the bottom of this and investigate this matter personally."

"I wont be taking your work for it." Smirked Grave, "In the meantime, don't let your lesser goon squads dig up some grave in the cemetery for some worthless diamond. They call that trespassing." Drawing in a breath, he released the cigar and bellowed out a large plume of poisonous gas visible to the naked eye. "Tootles, I got work to continue." Turning on his foot, Grave made his way back out to the entrance way leading him to a deserted bar room where he would find the door to the forever gloomy outside.



Moments later Khan looked over to Ben.

"What is it Khan?"

"Did you really tip off Father Frederick?"

Ben shrugged and turned to look at the four gathered around the table. "I may have... went to confession once or twice."

Three of the four chuckled softly and cards began to be redelt while Khan shook his head. "You guys are insane." He whispered getting only a soft laugh as Ben made his way back towards his room.


((damn drowsiness. >_< It's hard to concentrate and come up with a good implication that fits the quoted inspiration.))

-ensues chase, pins, and growls- Who do you work for?! What do you know about the man who killed my daughter?!

If ninjas can run on water and jump 40ft in a single bound... they can get on boats dawg. They're spidermen.

Hahahaha silly child... >.>; Of course not. -shields from view as he drops a few pills of cyanide into a glass of water- Here have some of this delicious sparkling cider!

And I was just going to swoop in from the shadows and object to pirate day since I'm a Ninja fan.... dammit she's a rock solid babe.

Completely agree. Subjecting oneself into a dispute like this; there's only one person to blame and it aint the user. :P

Actually, women's legs are a road map. They lead you strait to the main course. >:3

-glares and brandishes a sledgehammer- .... =.=

True, and I can understand that but that goes hand in hand with godmodders - folks who just aren't satisfied with the way things turned out and got butt hurt. Now grant it, if they're in a group of friends who all adhere to WoD rules, more power to them. It's rare that any individual actually tries to push WoD rules onto other strangers, at least I've never seen that happen. Many are more respectful to other non-WoD players than not in my opinion, and consider the game's Lore (CoX that is) beneficial for their own means.


I'd say the only thing about WoD players that annoys me is when they try to take something iconic and change it. Such as individuals who play a Malkavian but they're not insane in the least... which kind of goes against what I Malkavian was. Atleast, for a non-WoD player that was my understanding. But again, you can find people in CoX doing the same to the game's own lore; changing it rather than filling in the blanks that could be done and settles easier. That is why to me it sounds like complaints come from elitists because you (not you but whoever in question) don't like the source material, suddenly said person is not allowed to RP even if it's conducted in a respectable manner. Which to me is perfectly fine, what they do in their little circles is completely up to them and quite frankly none of my business; judging that doesn't make me the better man. But like I've said, as long as they don't subject non-WoD characters to their philosophies and are instead respectful to other individuals; more power to them.

So again, people who kind of marry sue their story line, I simply disassociate myself with them to allow them to go on their marry.

Yup that sounds about right.