[Sodium_noir] Back to the store/enter a man in black

[eugene mcfadden]

>Titus, Rachel
>Lasombra and Gangrel
>
>  > ' Panic?  Aye, well, I have something of a present for our little 
>wizard;
>  > define different, what's up with him?
>
>  > 'Tell you, what, let me stop off at a photocopy place and then I'll 
>meet
>you
>  > at Suzy Wong's, you can tell me about it there.  I guess I can find 
>it.'
>
>"I'll grab Two-Tone and meet you there."
>
>Rachel, Two-Tone
>Gangrel and Lasombra (I Think)
>Outside Titus' place, then Suzy Wong
>
>Rachel leans slightly to the left, hits the brakes just so, and skids the
>bike sideways into a parking spot outside the apartment (Drive 2, Dex 4,
>Daredevil).  After a shudder of sheer pleasure, she grabs the keys and
>starts to head upstairs, only to find Two-Tone perched on the
>steps.  "Nobody home," he says.
>
>"I know.  We just got off the phone.  We're going to Suzy Wong... it's a
>bar in Chinatown.  We're scoping it as a possible future base."
>
>"I'd better drive," says Two-Tone.  "I don't have a helmet."
>
>"Don't be a pussy," Rachel replies, straddling the bike.  "You're dead,
>remember?  All a helmet's gonna do is keep your brains in one place.  It
>can't save your life.  It can ruin your hair.  Besides, I've got a new 
>toy."
>
>Rachel kicks the bike into life as Two-Tone grabs her waist... tentatively
>at first, then with more enthusiasm.
>
>* * *
>
>Unsure of how Two-Tone will balance on the backseat, Rachel pulls to a
>somewhat more conservative stop outside the club.  The place is dimly lit,
>quiet, and with three open parking spaces in front despite the hour and the
>neighborhood.  "They've got to be closed," offers Two-tone.
>
>"Read the sign," replies Rachel as she points to a broken LED sign that
>says "u E ."  "Open."
>
>As she gets off the bike, Rachel finally notices the license plate (R AND
>P) and stops for a moment.  She blinks.  She licks an arm
>tentatively.  "Inside."
>
>Inside, the club is almost as dark as it looks from the
>outside.  Accustomed as they are to darkness, neither Two-Tone nor Rachel
>has any problem seeing the dancer, halfheartedly gyrating before five
>suited businessmen who appear to be far more interested in their business
>than the show.  Neither do they have any trouble seeing the bartender - who
>Rachel vaguely recognizes as one of the faces from the Tong that ran the
>drug trade.  "Bingo.  Have a seat."
>
>She pulls up a seat at the bar, and the bartender is immediately before
>her.  "We no serve you people here.  Get--"
>
>A hand at his throat stops his sentence.  "Titus Khan sends his
>greetings.  I'm sure you remember me from last night.  Picture these tits
>in a kimono dress.  Familiar?"  The chink nods.  "Good.  Now make
>nice.  Fix me half a drink and put on a nice show.  The Khan is on his
>way."  Another nod.  She releases him.
>
>"I ... apologize for my failure to recognize you, mistress."
>
>"Can it."
>
>Rachel and Two-Tone settle in to wait for Titus.

About twenty minutes later, Titus pulled up outside and limped in, drawing 
stares from most of the clientele, who soon focused on the more pleasing 
sight of the dancers.

Titus found Rachel and Two-Tone and sat down heavily, about four seconds 
later, a bartender turned up and started to ask him what he would like to 
drink.  Titus waved him away and got to business in hand, dumping the 
original manuscrpt on the table top, a packet of cigarettes next to it.  He 
took one out and lit it, offering the pack to Rachel, but not Two-tone.  
When the younger vamp reached for the pack, Titus shook his head, ' whne 
you've earnt it, not before.'

He focused his attention on Rachel.

' Tell me about Panic, why d'you think things have changed?'

TAG