IC: Bleeding Edge Options

[Large Mike]

The pub, which seems to have no name as far as anyone can tell, is fairly empty. There are only about a dozen patrons, and a young lady with a predator on her hip behind the bar. She hands Blitz a bottle of vodka with nothing else to drink it with and levels a cold stare at him.

"First, you kill some of the best people in this neighborhood, for something they didn't do, and now you're moving to not only their territory, but their doss? You are a cold sunuvabitch, and you are not welcome here. You'd better take your bottle and go back where you came from."

As this speech has been going on, most of the bar, at least half of them orcs and trolls, have stood up. To a man, almost every part of the lower-class pub full of working stiffs has a club of some kind. Some have guns, and there's even one that has an Uzi.

"You have three seconds to either explain why you shouldn't die, or leave."

With that, she moves out of arms reach (out of lunging reach, even), and draws her Predator.

"And wherever you end up, hell or the clubhouse, tell 'em Maggie sent you."

[Large Mike]

The girl starts to sit up some, and Mother heads over to help. They converse a little, and everyone can see that besides the trench coat she was wrapped in, the girl is wearing nothing but a paper hospital gown. She's a bit dirty and scraped up, and she looks like she just came down off a three day bender, but otherwise she's a fine, healthy teenaged elven girl. After a bit of discussion, Mother takes her down to the barracks, and they aren't heard from for a while.

[grimshear]

"Well Maggie... the way I see it, your boys lost," comes a voice from the back corner of the bar. "The sprawl works kinda like that, as you well know. Eats people up and spits out the pieces."

Nodding his head towards Blitz, the man says: "He's yours now, just like you're his. You wanna leave this place without protection? 'Cause that's what you'll do if you flip off the Edgers. You ever thought about this place getting torched because some go-boy don't like the look of the place? Be a sad thing that would, I kinda like the... 'ambience.'"

"Kicking the piss outta this slitch may feel good, but whatd'ya think it's gonna get you? The Edge is fraggin' pumped up right now, but they're hurtin'. Do you really think they'd stand for one of their own getting jumped by some bunch of nobodies?"

Looking around the room, the man brushes some of his long black hair out of his face. Shaking his head, he continues, "'Cause that's what you lot are. Nobody. You guys just make your way through life, wandering from day to day, moment to moment. What do you think putting the boots to this guy will do? It'll just hurt yourselves."

"Sit down, all of you. Keep it up and your just asking for trouble." Reaching over to the table on his right for his drink, the long jacket falls open to expose the SMG slung under his arm. Sipping his drink, his gaze sweeps across the bar, making no motion to hide the menacing chunk of chrome.

[Digital Heroin]

The odds weren't good, but then again, that was the way of things. Adrenaline, sweet adrenaline was building. He'd tightened his grip on the vodka bottle, had the guy with the Uzi lined up out of the corner of his eye. Take down the alpha, and the rest of the pack tend to fold.

Just before he'd gone and thrown though, this guy in the corner went and spoke up. Blitz grunts, and looks to him. Guy's packing too, but he's just showing. Guy's on his side, eh? Blitz allows a smile to creep over his fang laden mouth, and he looks to Maggie.

`He's right, lady. You off me, you lose your only shot at peace. Not that yous could do it.`

He leans on the bar, and levels his eyes with her.

`Now hows about you play nice. I's just looking for a drink. Lost chummers of me own, eh... that's the streets.`

He looks to the nameless guy who's got his back, and nods. Good to see someone here's got some brains.

[last_of_the_grea...]

Mickey continues his vigiliance. No more booze! It had cost too much! For a while he had used alcohol to help him...not forget...but to not feel about what he remembered. Now even that small comfort was not to be his. Someone had to watch over them all. Someone who knew and understood. Let Ghost be in charge. Mickey would be the one to keep them safe. He patrolled their ground untill he saw Kake exit the HQ. He looked left and right, up and down, then decided it was no more dangerous than usual right now. He walked over and asked, "You are here for patrol duty as well?" His semi vacant eyes were alert, looking past Kake as he spoke.

[Tanka]

Kake nodded.

"Yeah. Didn'' like dat girl. Ghost's taken 'er in, and I jus' don'' tink we can af'ord 'nother mouth ta feed. Sure, we lost a few guys, but dis is diff'rent. Don'' even know if she can fight er not."

[Large Mike]

Maggie nods. "I understand you lost people too, but you killed ours and wander into out bar? Tha's not smart. Maybe you and your new friend should go for a walk anyways."

She levels her gaze.

"I intend no offence, this's just kinda a private function, y'understan'?"

[last_of_the_grea...]

Mickey nods once in response to Kake's comment. "I too have my suspisions. But this is Ghost's call to make. It is up to me..." He looks at Kake, nodding once again. "...up to Us, I suppose, to be vigiliant. She may be a plant or she may not. If not, well, we have another in the fold. If not..." He takes his spray cans out of his leather jacket and shakes them up, painting the R with a red circle and slash through it on a bent and non functioning lamp post. His face is cold and businesslike when he paints his trademark on the cold, dead metal. He backs away several steps and pulls out his predator 2, firing a single shot in the R's "head." Now he was short 3 bullets, but the action made him feel a little more relaxed.

"You know, that battle was brutal! I am amazed that I came out unscathed. But then, I suppose the supporting players do not gain the glory. How did you fare in the fight? Anything memorable?"

[Tanka]

"Jus' traded a few blows wit' a slot in a synthleather jacket. Nuttin' worth mentionin'. I did manage ta pick up some extra weapons and drek."

He stretched out his arms for a crack, then his knuckles.

"It only seem fair dat Ghost pick who in an' who out. He did take care o' dat Loser..."

He glanced down and shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

"I still don'' like it, dough... I hope she' more dan a pretty face, ya know?"

[last_of_the_grea...]

"Indeed, time will tell. Shall we give her a wary benefit of the doubt?" He half smiles. He put his predator back in his holster and continued the patrol, waiting for his relief.

[Fresno Bob]

Nick parks his bike outside the store and gets off, then examines the bike, and rubs some dirt off the airbrushed name "Dream Shredder" with his jacket sleeve, then steps back to admire it a bit. Nice bike, thats for sure. Then he spots the row of payphones.

"Damn, gotta call my PO tomorrow...then go see her in a couple days after that. Damn bitch.", he thinks. Then he walks into the store. Once at the counter he orders a large bucket of fried chicken to go.

Driving back with the bucket secured to his bike, he keeps a lookout for garbagemen, or pimps, or whatever.

[Digital Heroin]

`Private I understand. You gots tonight, tommorrow I come for a friendly talk, alright?`

He tosses down some plasit-weave nuyen for the vodka. Tapping the stem to the bar. No one would ever acuse him of not respecting his neighborhood.

Blitz looks to the other guy, the one who spoke up.

`You want ta take a walk? These people need their time...`

Like he'd thought of leaving all along. He pushes off of the stool and waits a moment looking to the other guy, then heads for the door. If he's concerned with all the guns on him, it's not showing.

[grimshear]

Digging a couple of bills out of his pocket for the drink, the dark man leaves them under his now empty glass and stands up, swishing his coat back into place as he does.

Heading out the door just behind Blitz, he speaks up as they walk. "I can't say I think going in there was very smart of you, but I gotta admire the cajones it took to actually do it." :)

Extending a callused hand he says: "By the way, most everbody calls me Gent. Who're you?"

[Shadow]

After Nick returns

"Ok, we have a lot of work to do tomorow, we need to consolodate our territory, and make sure everyone knows who's in charge. I want Kake to take two people with him and visit the local buisinesses. Let 'em know that we are the protection now, and they can pay us starting immediatly. No crap though without my approval. I don't wan't a rebellion. Anyone who doesn't want to pay will have to talk to me and Blitz. And I am sure they won't like that.

Also, we need to round up the BTL trade here. It looks like the Losers had it going and we need to move in and take over. Nick, I want you to find out who is dealing and let them know that the price of dealing on our turf is %50 NET. Anyone failing to pay the price once get's roughed up, twice and they fall down and don't get up. Three times and it's beyond the pale time. Mickey, I want you to round up all the working girls in the territory, let em know were the new bosses. From now on we get %25 of everything they make. In exchange, if anyone lays a hand on em, their dead. Period. Also, if they let us know where their going to work we can arrange patrols. Ok what else, recruitment. We need some fresh blood, and we need it before the word get's out about how badly we really got hurt. I want everyone to keep frosty, if you see someone who looks like they could cut it, bring 'em in. Anyone have any questions?"

[last_of_the_grea...]

After being relieved and returning...

Mickey listens as Ghost speaks, approving of the manner in which he is rallying the troops. Themn he hears that he has hooker duty. Hmmm. A little different than his usual bodyguarding tasks, but in a way it was a promotion. He'd be in charge of something! He grinned slightly, the corners of his lips curving up a little.

"I'll need four men, one with a vehicle...a motorcycle would be best. That way I can cover a large enough erea during the aquisitions while remaining secure and keep in touch with the base. Do we have patches to mark them as ours? I'll need some of those. If not, I'll think of something. Nick, I'll have to coordinate with you. Prostitutes are ofton chipheads or druggies, or facilitate as well as work. I'll be sure to pass on what I discover when I brief the breeders."

[Tanka]

Kake returned just before Mickey, hearing his call as Ghost glanced at him.

"Yeah. Got one. You want dis approach to be bus-ee-ness like or like we be mean fraggin' trogs with a mind for danger?"

[Shadow]

"Be as business like as you can. We don't want to scare so bad they wont pay. So don't destroy anything, but let 'em know, were the new sherif in town. If anyone gives you grief, I'll handle them. And make sure you let them know that."

"Mickey, give 'em the red bandana we wear, tell them to tie them around their ankle. That way their easy to identify."

[Tanka]

"Arright, let's do dis!"

Kake points to the two biggest, meanest looking guys around with him and Ghost, then motions for them to get ready and to meet him outside of his semi.

[JongWK]

Meanwhile, an ork approaches the Loser's (former) hideout. Physically, he's a little short for an ork (about 6 ft. /1.80 mts. tall), but his shoulders do some justice to his kin. His short black hair contrasts with his rather pale skin. The guy's black long coat seems to have some reddish stains here and there. His neckerchief has the Bleeding Edge's colors, and so does his backpack.

His dark brown-reddish eyes locks on those outside the building.

"Hoi, chummer. I was heading for the ol' place, but word on the street is that you showed who the Losers who are the real hombres after Prometheus bought it, so here I am."

The ork looks at those present.

"Come one, remember me? It's me, Painkiller. Where are my brothers? Techie and Junkie sure have a couple stories to share with me."

[Digital Heroin]

As he steps out of the bar, Blitz's eyes fall on a figure making for the old Loser doss. His new digs. He lets out a steam of cold breath from his nostrils as he squares off with the intruder. Must be one of them cowards who ran decided to try and sneak back. He'd been hoping for that. Visions of flaying the flesh off of one of them bastards flashed through his head, and he took one long stride forward, hand reaching for his chain.

He stops short though, knuckles cracking, and the anger quickly fades. He recognizes the voice. But it isn't until a name's given it clicks.

`Painkiller? Man it's been too long...`

He rushes forward to grab up the wide Orc in a bear of a hug. Hell, if he'd still been anrgy, his grip'd be lethal.

`Frag I ain't seen you in... what, at least a few...`

He trails off after a moment, and falls silent. Bowing his head he grunts. He'd forgotten about Techie with the return. He'd let himself forget for a moment. He turns away a moment, holding himself back barely from punching himself in the face for his idiocy.

`Junkie's inside... Techie...`

He pauses a long moment, head cast down.

`Techie's dead... some Loser got him...`

He can't look back.

[last_of_the_grea...]

Mickey nods once and gathers up a bunch of bandanas. He picks out 4 gang members, one with a motorcycle, and heads out to the stroll.

Ah, the stroll. Any vice you can imagine at bargain basement prices. Every gang has it's own stretch along the stroll. He sends one Edger to either end of the Losers' former stretch, with orders to keep an eye out for trouble. The cycler he has on the street in the middle, to support as needed. He and the remaining edger begin the work of taking over. He approaches the first breeder, standing straight backed and authoritive, red bandana prominently displayed on his arm.

"I imagine the word's out by now. The Losers are out, the Bleeding Edge are in. I don't know what your previous deal was, but that doesn't matter. I'm here to let you know the new terms. As of now, you're protected by the Edgers. Anyone touches you or gives you any drek, we elimenate them. You need something, you come to us. In return, we get 25%. And you wear one of these on your ankle. Understood?" He hands over a bandana to her, wary and watching for trouble, but maintaining a professional cool while the other Edger supports him with arms crossed in front of him.

[JongWK]

As Blitz gives him a hug that would make momma bear proud, Painkiller manages to hear the bad news. His grin vanishes into a mask of pain and barely contained rage.

"Oh frag, you mean he's a deader too? Mierda... How bad is the situation? I was thinking in having a couple drinks of 'Burn, but if you chummers need me, blood is blood."

[Large Mike]

The hooker stares Mickey up and down. "Yeah, that's better than the deal I was under." She takes the bandanna. "To save time you might want to go talk to The Gaggle before they all take positions for the night. They're three blocks over in the abandoned diner."

She looks Mikey up and down again. "And I wouldn't recommend trying to force your will on them. They're stubborn, and they fight like madcats for each other."

She puts the bandanna in her purse and lights up a smoke.

"So, you want a quick once-over before you go?"

[last_of_the_grea...]

Mickey looked her over after handing her the bandana. It had been a long time...a very long time...
Business. Take care of biz first. "Perhaps I'll look you up after I take care of the rest. Keep the bandana on your ankle so we know to protect you." His trigger finger twitched nervously. It had been too long and it was tempting. "3 blocks over, hmm? Spread the word. BY the way, what is your name? I am Mickey." He nods to her, a basic bow he'd learned when he was young and was ingrained in him enough that he still did it on occasion as a reflex...all proper japanese form. He waited for her response, then he headed over to the abandoned diner, bringing his fellow edger with him. How to play this?

He opened the door and stood in the doorway, his bandana prodly displayed and his leather jacket zipped up tight. "Greetings. I am Mickey. As you can see, me and my friend here are Bleeding Edgers. I assume you all know what went down. I am here to make sure things do not dissolve." He stepped through the door, looking at each hooker independantly for a moment, to give the appearance that he was talking directly to each. He stood in a spot where all could see him clearly, letting his fellow Edger stay by the door. His hands were empty and open, a subtle display of peacefull intent.

"We Edgers understand that you might feel orphaned...uncared for and unprotected. The Bleeding Edge is here to take care of that. To protect you from those who might think themselves above you, think themselves better than you. However, as with everything else in life, this comes with a cost. In return forpreventing any harm coming to you and avenging any to which, somehow, harm does come, we will take a percentage. 25% of your gains. A small sum considering the returns. We edgers take care of our own and avenge our losses. Be a part of something greater than yourselves. Become one of the Bleeding Edge!"

He pulls a bandana out of his pocket. "All it takes is placing one of these on your ankle and all will know who you are. A part of a proud family." He looks about for the one who's lead they will all follow, handing her the bandana first. "What say you?"

[Large Mike]

The young lady's name is Tabitha, she smiles at Mikeys bow and bows back, also in perfect form.

Later, in the Henhouse, there are about twenty girls standing in what used to be a diner. They are having coffee and chatting among themselves until Mikey makes his little speech. Upon completion, an older, skinny woman with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth steps forward. She is as old looking as anyone can possibly look without being dead.

"Well, hun, that's a nice and tempting offer, but there's a problem. Most of us don't see but 10% of what we make. Usually, our pimps take it all. If you want 25% of nothing, your welcome to it. On top of that, there's alot of ignorant fuckers that send a girl or two to go get stitches before they hit the streets again. So, I can't officially speak for you, but this is what I'd do. I'd ask that you make me a free agent and that you prove you'll back us up. If you did that, I'd gladly hand over a quarter of what I earn."