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

[eugene mcfadden]

>Titus, Two-Tone, Rachel
>Two Lasombras and a Gangrel
>Suzy Wong
>
>  > 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.'
>
>Rachel takes the smoke, carefully lighting hers from the end of his.  She
>looks at the manuscript, but doesn't ask about it yet - Titus will bing it
>up when it's time.
>
>  > He focused his attention on Rachel.
>  > ' Tell me about Panic, why d'you think things have changed?'
>
>"Last night I talked to him about the difficulty with the streetwalkers'
>Tong.  Asked if he would be willing to actively discourage the slant Janes
>from looking to join the house.  He indicated that it would cost him
>something - maybe not much, but more than nothing - and insisted that he
>get something for it.  What he wanted was me."
>
>She takes a drag, holds it in her lungs for a while.
>
>"He wanted me staying there with him, at least a few nights a week.  I said
>I'd check with you about it.  But then, this morning..."
>
>She pulls Panic's note from her coat.  Oddly, the creases from the origami
>fold are completely gone.
>
>"Rachel,
>This isn't right.  I need my space to be my own.  I'm sure you
>understand.  Take your minion and hit the road... look at the bike as a
>parting gift.
>
>"I'll call if I need you.  Panic"
>
>Another drag, another pause.  "And then I find this black-cherry Aprilia
>downstairs - he gave me keys.  And the license plate says R and P.  I don't
>get it.  It's like he's chasing me off, but still trying to keep me
>close.  I've only known him for maybe a week but this doesn't feel right."

Titus puffed on his smoke and drummed his fingers on the bar.  ' Maybe he is 
chasing you off and trying to keep you close.  Him and Akrill never got 
on... and he basically set me up to take out Akrill...'

He gestrued to the manuscript, ' That there's something I dug out form 
Akrill's secret stash, the rest of it's a load of shit I gave to Mr Mystery 
in exchange for his services.  It's about Panic, but it's written in chink.  
I can't read it, but I know plenty who can.  I've photocopied it and was 
going to give the original to Panic... You, bar man,' Titus clicked his 
fingers, ' Come here and read this to us, do it now.'

TAG ST