Bread, Circus, Steak, & Satan: The EX(pro)-Files

A lonely man sits alone at a gigantic table. Thanks to years of trust and a healthy bribe, the world famous Ribera steakhouse is not open to the public right now, but instead just occupied by one man waiting for the major players to arrive. Slowly nursing a soft drink, he looks up and realizes the arrival of a few faces already.

Jonathan Collins: Virginia, get your setup working in three minutes, I’ve notified Aiken we’re patching him into...this.

Ginny Gerrard: Oh, wonderful. Let me set up the secure connection so that we can’t get tapped and… bam! We’re up and running and we can call Freaky Satanic Harem Leader #2 whenever we’re ready. Seriously, what is it with these guys?

With the work Virginia continues to do, lights flicker and when things are nice and normal again, someone is sitting next to them both, a smile on her face.

mara Collins: Ooh, does it play Minecraft?

Jonathan turns his head and narrows his eyes at his young sister.

Jonathan Collins: Mara….

mara Collins: Sorry, just trying to lighten the mood before we call Aiken. I didn’t realize 976-EVIL was an actual literal telephone number.

Jonathan Collins: …..

mara Collins: By the way, I really like your clone. She has your eyes!

Jonathan Collins: She’s not my clone!

mara Collins: She’s still exceptionally pretty.

Jonathan Collins: Can we deal with that later? I’m waiting for everyone else to arrive. I just paid handsomely to clear the place out.

mara Collins: Fine...I’m just here for the kaiju.

Reika Seragaki: I’m afraid the kaiju isn’t entirely aware of her role in this entire charade...yet.

While the two siblings had been quipping at one another, Reika had made her way inside - hair dyed to a jet black color, no make-up whatsoever and in the most casual attire one could find of a hoodie, jeans and a gray shirt underneath the hoodie with a chibi design and the words “Electric Tsundere” on the top and bottom part of it, a cute little drawing of Chris Strike blushing and looking rather upset right on the middle of it. As of recent, she’d become a companion in Chris Strike’s travels...enough to where she could represent him, given a concussion keeping him Stateside. Soon after, another familiar face walked through the door of the restaurant, clad in her own Ribiera jacket, jeans, and Attack on Titan t-shirt underneath. Fiona Collins strolls over to where she sees her husband sitting at a large table and smiles, moving to take the seat beside him when she stops and glares at mara.

Fiona Collins: What is she doing here?

Jonathan Collins: This involves everyone here. I called Elysium, so there’s peace at this dinner table...it goes for you too.

mara, in response, smiles like an angel before sticking her tongue out at Fiona.

mara Collins: I’m going to behave, sister mine. Now sit down before you make him frown.

Fiona glares once again at her sister-in-law before she sighs heavily, sliding into the chair beside her husband.

Fiona Collins: Fine. But if you try anything? I will take you outside and your face will never be seen again. Got it?

mara Collins: Sweetie, don’t say you love me if you don’t mean it.

The Allmother grins before Jonathan turns his head and looks at them both, putting that argument to bed.

Reika Seragaki: Anyways, I hope you already paid for the food too...because I am starving. And this story’s going to require some steak in me.

Emi Watanabe: Ordinarily, I’d love some fuckin’ steak, but booze first. I’m gonna need a lot of booze to handle this. Also, hi, Mr. Collins. I’m sorry about that thing a few years ago where I promised I was gonna kick you in the dick a lot.

Watanabe had been dragged into this via Reika, and her association with GOTHRA. Exactly how the...unique GOTHRA was involved in this, Emi didn’t know, but if GOTHRA was involved, so too was she. And THAT meant more alcohol than the Revo kids had imbibed in Vegas to handle all of this.

Jonathan Collins: That was actually about a year ago, but no worries. Ginny, how are we coming on establishing a connection with Aiken?

mara Collins: Maybe we can trade Fiona for one of those girls he made!

Jonathan Collins: ……

mara Collins: You’re no fun.

Ginny Gerrard: Okay and coming to us live from… probably Hell itself, is the one and only Aiken Frost.

Jonathan Collins: Well...here we are again, Lucien. How are Kirian and Rachel?

Aiken Frost: Yes so it would appear, Mr. Collins. My brother Kirian is well as for his wife, I couldn’t care any less at this point. It is a pleasure to finally meet all of your acquaintances.

mara Collins: You collect pretty girls...so do I.

Fiona looks over at mara, her eyes narrowing before she looks over at Jon.

Fiona Collins: Honestly, are you sure you’re both related?

mara Collins: Of course we are. I’m sweet and a sociopath, he’s out of his mind for marrying you.

Jonathan elbows his sister while Fiona tries to lunge at her across Jonathan’s body.

mara Collins: Okay, okay, marriage for the third time is a perfectly sane and normal act of life that you should take pride in!

Mara sighs, Jonathan shaking his head before mara settles down.

Jonathan Collins: Sorry about that, Aiken. We’re not all accounted for yet, but mara seems to think we can all make a business arrangement that would be beneficial to all...namely helping you acquire Ellum, Texas.

Aiken Frost: Yes, I recall finding papers on the place when my grandfather showed an interest.

Reika Seragaki: ...The place dates that far back? Good fucking grief…

Reika glanced over as their server muttered something in Japanese while dropping off water cups for the guests. They replied in return, getting a nod from the server before their focus came back to the table and the business at hand.

Reika Seragaki: Sorry, made sure to get in the orders of Asahi for those of us who do drink. Anyways...I’m assuming by going about this that your plan, Mr. Collins, is to pass on the reigns of the city over to Aiken over here...who will then probably eradicate Hal, Kadence and everyone else who doesn’t get out of dodge. Thus meaning we’ll only deal with a psychopath who indulges in making his own personal collection of modern day Stepford Wives come to life rather than the psychopath who has been torturing the wrestling world for damn near three generations. Is that a correct assumption to make?

From the hallway leading to the room containing the giant table, a commotion is soon apparent. The reason for said commotion is the two (R)W students making their way towards the meeting site. One of them, apparently, has already been indoctrinated into the culture of the place, wearing a pair of Zubaz pants and a fanny pack as he turns to his companion, sighing.

Simon Raines: For the sixth time, Vivienne, this is NOT my fault!

Vivienne Robichaud: Listen, since Collins got rid of Daisuke at the Autumn Effect, everyone else has been too busy with mara and REVOLUTION to bother looking into Daisuke bringing me here. You bring him up and suddenly here I am facing all sorts of questions from these people when really I think there’s bigger fish to fry here.

Simon Raines: Technically, we’re here because Jimmy caught you playing Agent Smith to my Neo and decided he just haaaad to try for himself. You were coming here anyway, now you just have more questions to answer. So, let’s sit down and I can see if I understand any of this, and I’ll tell you anything about myself that doesn’t come up over the course of his...meeting.

With that, Raines takes a seat at one of the empty chairs at the table, motioning for Vivi to take a seat alongside him as he looks out at the...motley crew that has been assembled for this...whatever it is.

Eve: Hopefully something stimulating.

From behind them walks the girl with one name, looking about as interested in this as she did in most things these days.

Eve: But considering this is because of Daisuke, I’m sure all it’ll do is annoy me.

Vivienne takes a seat next to Simon, turning toward Eve at the sound of her voice.

Vivienne Robichaud: Did it ever occur to you that there is a reason I don’t talk about the Daisu - oh. Well. This just got awkward.

Eve tilts her head.

Eve: Did it? I’m not so good at reading the atmosphere these days.

Jonathan Collins: Guys, I want you to meet Eve. She’s...well, for a lack of a better term, she’s the Perfect Evil. She’s a clone of me...somewhat.

Fiona looks at Jonathan with wide eyes then over at Eve before back at her husband.

Jonathan Collins: I’d like to remind you that you asked for this level of honesty and openness in our marriage when it came to EXODUS. Welcome to it.

Fiona Collins: I…..wow. I can honestly say for the first time in my life, I’m shocked.

mara smiles and looks at her, going to touch her cheeks.

mara Collins: I like her already!

She kisses The Perfect Evil’s forehead.

mara Collins: Welcome to the family.

Eve smiles at Mara.

Eve: Awww, thank you!

She gives her a quick hug.

Eve: Though, since you called Elysium on this whole thing, Jon, I should get something out of the way immediately.

Jonathan Collins: Do what you need.

Eve: In the interest of honesty…

She reaches down to the bottom of her shirt, pulling it long enough for them all to see she has a knife sheathed at her belt.

Eve: I have this. I won’t be checking it at the door. I’ll need it if I get…

She clicks her tongue a few times, searching for the word.

Eve: ...off-center.

Jonathan Collins: I had to do that for the first six months, I get it.

Eve: Oh? You had to horribly injure yourself to keep you from turning into a murder machine?

Jonathan Collins: The first couple of months, I had a hell of a time.

mara Collins: That explains his god awful goth look for a few years. Everything sucked to him. You had horrible fashion sense, brother mine. You wore fishnet shirts!

Fiona nods her head before she looks at mara in surprise.

Fiona Collins: Hey look, something we can actually agree on.

Jonathan Collins: CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS LATER?

mara giggles and ruffles his hair.

mara Collins: Don’t mind me, I’m trying to keep the mood light. We’re also wasting Aiken’s precious time here...oh Lucien, are you still eyeballing real estate in Texas?

Aiken Frost: I certainly am my dear. Although I am also looking at other locations as well.

mara Collins: Well we’d like to help you acquire Ellum. Considering it’s Satan’s taint, you’re probably wanting this place more than any of them.

Jonathan Collins: …..she’s not wrong.

Eve: Oh, we’re auctioning off where I was born? How nice.

Mika Kozlov: Auction?! Oh! One dollar!! Hee Hee Hee...

The strong Russian accent from Mika is heard, but then her head appears in front of Aiken. Her jet black eyes looking at the camera and screen on their end of the connection.

Mika Kozlov: Hello little people, what are you doing in there?! Hee Hee...

Mika’s head disappears as Aiken watches and smirks ever so slightly before shaking his head.

Vivienne Robichaud: Freaky place. Might be better off under new management, if you ask me.

Simon Raines: ..wait, I thought you said this conversation wasn’t relevant to you? You know more about this than I do!

Vivienne Robichaud: ...Yeah, I do. Did it ever occur to you that maybe I was keeping the whole Daisuke thing quiet for a reason, Simon?

Eve: Is that reason “Daisuke Iwakuma is a little bitch”?

Reika Seragaki: Wouldn’t surprise me. Also, focus. We got a deal to apparently finish, so precious little Stepford Husband over there can go on with adding to his collection.

Jonathan Collins: Well, we’re still waiting on a handful of people. If we’re going to make this deal, we need the rest of the Round Table. Ladies, gentlemen...Mr. Frost...Nicholas Gray and I created a new initiative shortly before The Autumn Effect ended. Our goal was to prevent the worst things in professional wrestling rearing their ugly heads before they could hurt EXODUS and hopefully...the industry itself. The Round Table has some of the most influential and important people sitting at it. Myself, Fiona, Papa Arino, DEMON Suzuki, Angela Jameson, Andreas Lasiewicz, Dr. Cyril Kuller, Seymour Almasy, Jimmy Riley, Darrin Stearns, and Nicholas Gray. Our goal is to regulate things like this from destroying our company, along with containing bastards like Chuck Matthews. We stop the threats before they reach Furor-level. Secure, Contain, Protect EXODUS at all costs. Unfortunately, no matter what we do, it seems like Hal Snyder’s touch is going to be tainting EXODUS for some time to come. So that’s why we’re here.

Nicholas Gray: Did I hear my name?

Jonathan turns his head and smiles as he goes to shake his friend’s hand.

Jonathan Collins: Good to see you healthy, Nicholas.

Nicholas smiles back as he shakes hands.

Nicholas Gray: Well, it’s not like I wasn’t used to hospital stays.

Jonathan Collins: I will remind all of you that you’re under a gag order to keep the existence of this group a secret. Especially since some of you are being watched carefully by this group. I’m looking at you, Lucien and Mara.

mara Collins: Fiiiiiiiiine.

Aiken Frost: My lips are sealed.

Eve: Cyril never mentioned this all to me. Hmph.

Dr. Kuller: Well, I have to keep some secrets.

The door bursts open with the next two to join the party being EXODUS’ Director of Quality Control Seymour Almasy...and the Director proper, Jimmy Riley.

Seymour Almasy: Sorry I’m late, everyone. Had to pick up Mister Riley, he’s still a little flustered at getting his strikes blocked by a “twenty year old.” On that note, hello, Simon.

As Almasy took a seat at the far end of the table, Raines groaned, and buried his face in his hands.

Simon Raines: Can’t we finish the important business before we get to everything in that file Ginny made about me?

Eve: I’m more interested in that file, honestly.

Ginny Gerrard: I’ve got a lot of files in my library. Which one, the one on Simon?

Eve: For the immediate time, yes that one. But I’d be interested to know who else you have dirt on.

Jimmy Riley: The immediate future sees that file in my hands, actually. If, uh, someone could pass that tablet down here.

Ginny slides the tablet down toward Jimmy, who calmly stops it with his hands...only to quickly pick it up and begin reading.

Ginny Gerrard: It’s organized into EXODUS and (R)evolution, alphabetically by first name. So if you need to access anyone else’s file, it’s there.

Eve: Does that go for anyone ever on the roster?

Ginny Gerrard: Yes, if they’ve walked through the office doors, we have their info on file. They’re limited-access though, so if the Round Table gives you the go ahead, I can get you a copy of a specific dossier.

Cthulhu Jones: Alternatively, you could always browse through mine.

A few eyes turn to the voice, which has appeared accompanied by a disembodied soft jazz saxophone solo. The waiter handing out the beers is none other than the Private Eye Of The Apocalypse.

Seymour Almasy: I’d be willing to take a look, Mr. Jones, once business proper here is finished.

Eve: Oh, how could they say no? I’m basically a second Jon.

Simon Raines: More attractive, too. ...no offense, Mr. Collins.

Vivienne Robichaud: Simon, no.

Eve: Why thank you, Simon. I’d listen to the priestess though.

Simon Raines: Yeah. I’ve learned that much thanks to getting Force choked by a Sith lord.

Jonathan shakes his head and pinches the bridge of his nose.

Jimmy Riley: ...Just what I always wanted. A second Jon.

Fiona Collins: Not gonna go where my mind just went. Mmm mm, nope.

mara Collins: Or mine...not like the world needs more than one of brother mine.

Eve: Believe me. It’s not what I wanted. Thanks Daisuke.

mara Collins: I always wanted a sister who didn’t judge my mental state…

Jonathan Collins: It’s not my fault Michelle got into being a shrink.

mara Collins: The only one of us who escaped the crazy. Chris Strike would hate her.

Ruby Tyler slips through the door and takes a seat at the end of the table, looking around at everyone. The real server finally has come through and delivered the sets of beers and initial steaks to the table members, leaving them be almost immediately as the table grew fuller.

Ruby Tyler: Sorry I’m late. Next time warn me there’s gonna be a meeting and I won’t fall asleep.

Reika Seragaki: It was only on Twitter for about twenty minutes’ worth before it got made on the fly. You know this place...only time it’s a full-on organized machine is when it comes to the wrestling part of it. ...But by all means, go on, Jonathan.

Jonathan Collins: Indeed. Listen, Aiken...how much resources do you have if we want to pool together to clean out Ellum from Hal Snyder and whatever he wants? I brought up your name once, and even he shivered at your family’s pedigree. My guess is that your family tree has something on the guy that we don’t and we can use. That being said, I’m not opposed to working together, provided the means and the ends line up so that I’m not looking down at you trying to wreck my company with your demons. It’s bad enough that I’ve got your sister and her friends terrorizing Mr. Caldwell...and that being said, you and I will be discussing how we can...mentally recalibrate whatever your brother and Rachel did to Cassidy Carter.

Eve: Fuck that, that girl’s gonna be dead soon.

Aiken smirks while listening to Jonathan address him with his thoughts.

Aiken Frost: There are no limits to my resources Mr. Collins. With regards to the young miss Carter, that is a matter you would have to take up with my brother’s wife.

Jonathan Collins: Aiken, she is listing her affiliation with your New Eden, so I imagine you have some sort of knowledge into this. I’d like to see her okay before Mr. Caldwell does something that will affect far more than Cassidy.

mara Collins: I like that kid, he’s got some bloodlust.

Eve: We both like Carey too! I keep liking her more and more.

Aiken Frost: She certainly is a firm believer in our cause, and has a strong link to my sister Jaina. But she is also one who follows her own ideals as well, I have always believed in allowing one to be themselves.

Jonathan Collins: Cut the crap. I’m completely aware Rachel and Kirian brainwashed her. I want to know how and if it can be fixed.

Aiken Frost: You cannot fix which is not broken.

Cthulhu Jones: I’ll second that.

Eve: Sounds like the solution is violence!

Jonathan Collins: So...it seems like we need to let Carey come back before this gets worse. We’ve done enough to that GRENDEL boy, I don’t imagine that will end well for anyone if those two destroy the entire venue in their upcoming match.

Eve: Getting Carey reinstated is actually why I’m even here.

Jonathan Collins: Darrin will possibly be here shortly. You two can hash out those details. Meanwhile, I’m putting myself back on track...so the idea is out on the table. All of our resources together to usurp Hal from Ellum. Does anyone feel like this is a bad idea? As much as I hate it...I don’t know if we have a choice. Hal is a clear and present danger, and if we have a way to break whatever influence he has on EXODUS and our talent, then maybe it’s a risk we need to take. Nick, what do you think?

Nicholas Gray: Aren’t we just giving one devil up for another?

Cthulhu Jones: Yes. It’s a terrible idea. There are always options. And trust me, they all end poorly. For everyone.

Nicholas Gray: Oh. Gooooood. That’s just what I wanna hear.

Jonathan Collins: Well is there an alternative that doesn’t end poorly, Mr. Jones?

Cthulhu Jones: Well, I could do my actual job. That has a very… definite ending?

Nicholas Gray: Does that destroy the world?

Cthulhu Jones: Of course not.

Nicholas Gray: Well, in tha…

Cthulhu Jones: Just all life on it.

Nicholas Gray: …I’m gonna need a tylenol.

Jimmy Riley: I’m gonna pass on that one.

Reika Seragaki: ...This dude on the screen taking on new real estate...or the destruction of the world as we know it...yeah, I’ll take Stepford Husband running the Ellum asylum.

Emi Watanabe: ...what in the name of God have I been dragged into…?

Nicholas Gray: Well, I guess I’ll approve of this, so long as we’re all aware we’ll almost certainly be back here in, like, six months discussing how to get the place away from Aiken.

Reika Seragaki: ...You sound like Chris right now, Nick.

Nicholas Gray: I think we sound alike a lot, actually. We should get drunk sometime.

Reika Seragaki: As long as you make sure he keeps it in his pants, everyone will thank you for it.

Nicholas Gray: I’m the kinda drunk that will encourage him to do something really stupid with his penis. So maybe we shouldn’t get drunk together.

Vivienne Robichaud: Is burning the place to the ground an option? Because I’m pretty sure I could take care of that.

Jonathan Collins: It certainly isn’t. The fact is, there are artifacts Strike and I need to recover and books that are located in town that will be needed to help us understand both what he’s currently dealing with and the Perfect Evil curse. The fact is, Chris and I have a bit of an advantage now. Mr. Zinkus and I visited a temple during our last Japanese tour that was...unfortunately slaughtered. That’s where Simon Raines comes in.

Simon Raines: I don’t know how much I can tell you about that, though. I was excommunicated in...I can’t even believe I’m saying this, but...somewhere around 1839, or so?

Cthulhu Jones: 1837.

Vivienne Robichaud: 18… what the fuck?

Simon Raines: 37! You’re right!

Jimmy Riley: HE’S RIGHT!?

Seymour Almasy: It seems so. Ginny’s only gone back 75 or so years from what Jon tells me. To be fair, though, in Japan she could probably go back at least another fifty past that.

It’s at that point that Simon realizes there’s a voodoo priestess staring a hole in him, and he sighs.

Simon Raines: Sooo, this is, I guess, the part where I have to admit that I’m at least two-hundred years old. Maybe more. I can’t seem to find my birth certificate.

Vivienne Robichaud: ...You and I will discuss this later.

Cthulhu Jones: I have a copy of that should you need it later, by the by. Although you’ll probably need help translating it.

Simon Raines: I’ll stop by the office? Vivi tells me it’s well appointed. And yes, Vivienne, we will. Just be gentle.

Eve: Honestly, I’m doing pretty good at understanding it. And I hope none of those artifacts were in that lab that went kaboom! That’d be awkward.

Reika Seragaki: That is my cue, it seems...and no, Eve, you’re fine.

Reika cleared their throat, taking the floor without even so much as waiting for another word.

Reika Seragaki: During times even dating back to when Jonathan Collins started to deal with possibly inheriting the mark that Eve now possesses in full...Hal Snyder somehow got his hands on the book Mr. Zinkus has in hand and from a particular section of it, he pulled out twelve different marks, all based within the zodiac. Now, I’m not exactly sure how he got the book or what was his process of choosing who would get them and why. What I do know is that he’s marked twelve different people with them...one of them being yours truly, the other one being everybody’s favorite “stick the dick in crazy” little shit known as Chris Strike.

Eve: The fact that’s what he’s most known for is hilarious to me.

Reika Seragaki: Oh, this goes far, far back to his rookie days. I’ve got stories, given I was his running companion for a good two years long before all of this. Anyways...the fact is, he marked me with the Capricorn sign about nine years ago. So I had that in me when I first met Chris...but, never in a million years did I think that Snyder would complete the collection. For years, I’ve been roaming all over, learning more about it, trying to control whatever insane power was contained inside of these...so, of course, my eyes go wide the moment I see Chris Strike with the Sagittarius mark scarred on his chest after he unmasked from the WEAPON persona. Add that to the fact that Magdalena Lasiewicz might have been there trying to protect him after all - bearing a mark of her own - and this entire thing’s slowly turning into a distracting clusterfuck. ...Oh, right. And we’ve got one of them running around and trying to take the power from these marks for themselves...like he just did with Magdalena a month ago.

Reika glanced over at Jonathan Collins...

Reika Seragaki: Talk some sense into her brother and get her out of Blackthorn Asylum as soon as possible.

...then over at mara Collins.

Reika Seragaki: You know how terrible that place is as well as I do, thanks to your daughters.

Eve: ...this is the most fascinating thing I’ve heard in a while.

Cthulhu Jones: You people do realise I have an office, and I take on these kinds of problems for money? DID I WASTE MONEY ON THOSE BUSINESS CARDS FOR NOTHING?

Eve: I don’t have money.

Jimmy Riley: ...Wait, who are the other ten? And this is free, with purchase of a steak dinner. I’ll take this.

Cthulhu Jones leans over to Jimmy Riley, taking something out of his top shirt pocket.

Cthulhu Jones: My card.

Reika Seragaki: I’m Capricorn. Strike is Sagittarius. Magdalena had the Mark of Cancer in her, but that power’s been stolen. And Gemini? It’s a gentleman that goes by the name of Cristiano Reviera, the last I saw of him...but his abilities with that mark? Well, you’ve read enough comic books to know who Mystique is, right?

Eve: ...what is it with Italians and being evil.

Simon Raines: Hey! I’m quite fond of Italians…

Eve grins.

Eve: So am I.

Reika disregards the two for a moment, looking over at Emi Watanabe.

Reika Seragaki: Finally, this is where you’re tied in...by sheer, absolute pure luck that I’m not sure I will ever have in my life...the woman who wears the costume of GOTHRA that you’ve come to protect...well, she has the Mark of Aquarius under her wrist guised as a tattoo. This is why I want you to keep an eye on her at all times going forward, Emi…because God knows if Cristiano finds out, he’ll end up coming for her.

Emi Watanabe: ...I don’t know about any of this Mark of Aquarius stuff, but that last bit’s a language I speak. The kaiju gets hurt over my dead body.

Jonathan Collins: Hal has always had the unique desire to collect people with special abilities. Over the years, I’ve learned that something about me inspires hope in others. I’ve tried to use it to help others and get them to reach their full potential. See the talks I’ve had with people like Zero McHannon and others. Mara’s is a little more...unique.

Fiona Collins: Unique? More like batshit insane, I think, is a better term for that.

mara Collins: Listen, just because my brain is weird doesn’t make me insane. Just like your boobs don’t make you cute. For lack of a better term, I speak crazy. I literally speak crazy. The problem is nine out of ten times, I leave them crazier than the started. I’ve...also picked up a few of Hal’s tricks. That’s how I’ve done what I’ve done to Brianna and Audrey.

Jimmy Riley: ...The WEAPON initiative, as well?

Jonathan Collins: Each of them has something special about them that makes them capable of harnessing the color on the emotional spectrum they represent. Ms. Christensen has iron will and determination. Mr. Caldwell has something about his rage that he can tap into. I think this is where Mr. Gerrard comes in, Virginia. Young Daniel may be able to fill the void of the blue costume I once left behind. The Star Sapphire costume, the purple one...I’m not at liberty to reveal her identity just yet. She’s not done training, but she’ll be ready.

Seymour Almasy: How much of this does your wife know? She...looks like she’s trying to process a particularly difficult math problem.

Fiona is indeed sitting and staring at the table with an unknown expression on her face. At the mention of her name however, she lifts her head to look at everyone’s face before back at her husband and at Seymour.

Fiona Collins: I knew some of this but…..not near as much as I thought I did apparently. It’s a lot to process and take in but, interesting. To say the least.

Jonathan Collins: Fiona knows a lot about my issues with The Perfect Evil. I also happen to know that Mr. Frost here knows a great deal about my abilities and the curse itself, seeing as how that’s why he’s come to watch our little plucky promotion. Isn’t that right, Aiken?

Aiken Frost: You could say that Mr. Collins.

Jonathan Collins: The fact is, a good chunk of people in this room have abilities that could bring down Hal Snyder combined if we pool our resources. It’s just a matter of getting everyone to work together and find a solution that will leave everyone content.

mara Collins: I have a request...that son of a bitch Snyder ends up in the Asylum. For everything he did to you, to me...and for everything that’s happened to my children.

Jonathan Collins: Where did you find those girls? And better yet, what are you going to do about Brianna? She’s related to one of my closest friends.

mara Collins: I just know how to use those lanterns. I don’t know how to undo what they cause. Perhaps that’s a mystery we can all unfold together, unless our tentacled friend happens to know how they work...but given how much Hal keeps close to his chest, we are probably all mutually clueless. I could turn her over to Aiken, but I imagine Angela doesn’t want the lovely sunflower worse than when she started. The fact is, I have my plans, Jonathan. I’m willing to work to meet this goal, but once this is over, I’m going to finish what I started. Now, are we going to burn the witch at the stake, or am I rampaging alone?

Jonathan Collins: Anyone?

Eve: Which witch?

Fiona Collins: The Wicked Witch!

Jonathan snickers at Fiona’s jokes before people turn to look at him and he quickly composes himself to talk.

Jonathan Collins: Hal Snyder.

Fiona Collins: Oh, that was my next guess too.

Cthulhu Jones: Well, let’s look at this a little. I might know something, I might not. We’ll have to see. But regarding the Asylum… nice idea. Wrong asylum.

mara Collins: I have my reasons.

She leans over and tickles Cthulhu’s “tentacles.”

mara Collins: I like you though. You seem fun!

Cthulhu Jones: No point trying talking crazy to me, dame. Bonafide source of madness right here.

mara Collins: Exactly why I like you. We speak the same language.

Eve: Source of madness? So...you’re the one Chris Strike wants to bone the most?

Jonathan Collins: ….that may never get old.

Eve: It’s weird for me since every time I say it, I remember I’m kinda crazy.

Reika Seragaki: Don't let him know that. Ever. Somewhere in his mind, he'll take it as a challenge…

Eve: ...challenges are fun though.

Simon Raines: I’m going to need to get filled in on a lot at some point. At least after remembering everything, I know why I was so wary of mara.

Jonathan Collins: I’m hoping Virginia has been able to digitize and condense Mr. Zinkus’ notes for you to catch up on. Though at this point, I have reason to believe that you may know the location of something we can use to possibly neutralize Hal once and for all.

Ginny Gerrard: Haven’t quite finished them yet but I brought them along in case I needed a side project here in Japan.

mara Collins: Oh, that reminds me!

mara stands from her chair and goes over to tuck a map in the pocket of Jimmy Riley.

mara Collins: Someone who knows your family is at that exact location in Osaka. He’s...well let’s just say he’s the reason your daddy dearest wasn’t swallowed whole when Texas took a bite out of him.

Jimmy involuntarily shivers, but pats the map in his pocket to verify its mere existence. He looks up at Mara...and holds back any show of emotion. Fiona narrows her eyes at mara in suspicion before she reaches out to pat Jimmy’s shoulder in support.

Jimmy Riley: I’ll look into it.

mara returns to her chair, grinning over at her brother.

mara Collins: He’s frightened. It’s kind of cute at this point. How little crazy have you subjected him and Fiona to?

Jonathan Collins: I’ve been trying to protect people since I failed you, Mara.

mara Collins: Well that’s magnificent. Now you’ve got them, the laptop girl, her scrawny hubby, and THAT girl to protect.

She quickly turns and points at Angela Jameson.

mara Collins: I’d apologize for making your cousin crazier, but she’s really nice and she’s pretty and we like to talk over Starbucks….I taught her how to use acupuncture to kill a man. Say, Simon, are you still tense? Would you like to have acupuncture done to relieve your tension?

Simon Raines: No thank you. You’re...not a Buddhist, are you?

mara Collins: No, I’m a Collins.

Eve: Ba dum tsh.

Cthulhu Jones: So we’re still going through the pretense of calling you Simon? OK. Good to know. Nearly made a big mistake.

Jonathan Collins: I suppose it’s probably the best for him so he can integrate into this generation, Cthulhu.

Simon Raines: Thanks, I appreciate it. But I’m not sure how much of my backstory I really want to say, now, considering I’ve been making poor life choices since before Chris Strike was a twinkle in his father’s eye.

Reika Seragaki: ...Yup, this joke will not get old.

Jonathan Collins: The plus side is once you wake up and remember everything, force chokes won’t be an issue...but Hal Snyder and any living member of your Order left will be one. Thankfully, you’ve got us here.

Cthulhu Jones: For a reasonable fee, plus expenses.

Simon Raines: I might be able to pay that. Well. Assuming that I can find all the places I’ve squirreled away money over the years. One was here in Japan. The other is in Naples, which should be fun to go find.

Ruby Tyler: You know, if you’ve got stuff that needs finding… I could take a crack at it.

Cthulhu Jones: Assuming I haven’t already found it, TERRITORY THIEF!

Jonathan Collins: Look, we can worry about finding money later. Right now, we need to assess the situation here. Can we stop this Hal problem, can we trust Mr. Frost, and can we do this while trying to deal with this bullshit Zack Lifer has created?

Cthulhu Jones: Yes, no, maybe.

Jonathan sighs at the interruption.

Jonathan Collins: The reality is that Chuck Matthews’ hands aren’t clean completely from this Lifer stuff. So we need to send our resources to each location without stretching them.

Vivienne Robichaud: You know, a few well-placed hexes…

Nicholas Gray: I dunno. My old friend seemed to handle him well.

Jonathan Collins: He’s threatening to hijack our shows. I want manpower available to watch over him, and possibly something to help Andreas. Heather will NOT be a casualty of him. I trust Wulf though, so if you think Wulf’s up to the job, I’ll ask Seymour to loosen the reigns on Wulf to get the job done.

Nicholas Gray: Make it so, then.

Seymour Almasy: I have no problems with this. I will also monitor Chuck to the best of my ability - it goes without saying that I do not trust him and would like him and Lifer as far away from this company as is humanly possible.

Nicholas Gray: I’d like them both buried, but hey...compromises.

Reika Seragaki: That is the name of the game when it comes to this vicious, violent sport of ours.

Nicholas Gray: That’s why I kept trying to get out. But here I am. Oh well.

Simon Raines: I think it’s pretty obvious that I know a thimbleful of what’s going on. But whatever I need to do, whatever you all think I can help out with...I’m in.

Vivienne Robichaud: Yeah, I could take a crack at Matthews and Lifer. It’ll be fun. I mean, Lifer’s kind of like shooting fish in a barrel, but Matthews presents a rather… interesting challenge.

Simon Raines: You and I have very different definitions of fun.

Reika Seragaki: Have any of you powers-that-be given thought to bring in that girl Mr. Cochrane is dating these days? She seems close to Mr. Matthews from what little I've observed…

Vivienne Robichaud: Jessica is his sister. And unless we plan on taking Chuck out by feeding him cookies until he bursts, she’s absolutely freaking useless. Kind of like Adrien.

Jonathan Collins: We wait for Chuck to screw up before we make a move on him, and considering how brazen he gets, he most certainly will. Okay, so we’ve got Wulf handling Lifer, with Andreas ready to go. The next move is how we handle everything we know. Reika, I want you and those marks protected at all costs. You and Ms. Watanabe protect that kid in a moth costume at all costs. Talk to DEMON if you have to, recruit Mr. Caldwell, recruit Mr. Uchikawa if you have to. I want that kid away from Hal Snyder and anything he has planned.

Eve: I’ll help stab people.

Jonathan Collins: You might need to stab Lifer at some point.

Eve: Oooooooooooh. I’m in. I can brag to my friend about it.

Jonathan Collins: Nicholas, I need you to see how much we can dig into that cache you put aside when Harvey told you about the surplus.

Nicholas Gray: I’ll get to work.

Jonathan Collins: Considering your past with Wulf, I want you directly involved on dealing with Lifer. Besides...you owe him one for what he did to you.

Nicholas Gray: Fuck that. I owe him more than one.

Jonathan Collins: Then take him the fuck out.

Nicholas Gray: With pleasure.

Cthulhu Jones: So, we’re agreed then? Everyone’s going to do some stuff, Frost is going to get a new backyard, I’m going to get paid a shedload of hard cash, and… then what?

Vivienne Robichaud: Then, apparently, I get to answer all sorts of fun questions from these guys about how I got here and what I was brought here to do. But that’s just me.

Simon Raines: And I get to tell stories about how I get excommunicated from my home for sleeping with Mara’s daughter. No, not lowercase mara. Capital M Mara. But that’s a long story.

mara Collins: ….you don’t look like any of their type, buddy.

Simon Raines: CAPITAL M.

Seymour Almasy: On the subject of people you’ve been sleeping with...Whitmore concerns me. Having an actual Sith Lord, with the backing of that group that she has, seems a recipe for...unpleasantness.

Jonathan Collins: Thankfully we have people versed in abilities to counter that. The Force is a buzzword for it, but what it actually is happens to be a power people like Ms. Whitmore shouldn’t be allowed to tap into. She’s not mentally strong enough to control it.

He glances at Eve.

Jonathan Collins: Maybe you’ll beat Devan to the punch in how to master something like that.

Eve: Wait, what.

Jonathan Collins: You’ll figure it out.

Eve: ...I thought this was about getting rid of secrets, Jon.

Jonathan Collins: My guess is that some of the powers I had manifest in my own earlier days of the curse may poke through on you. It came and went, but I haven’t exactly tried to bend spoons or pull things close to me. You have noticed I have a intense power of persuasion, right? Well, that’s part of the “force,” now isn’t it?

Eve: Oh good. I’m a Jedi. I should probably go ahead and spoil that I’m not gonna be a very good one.

Vivienne Robichaud: My theory was that it’s some sort of psychokinetic ability, but given everything that’s going on, there could very well be more to it. And Simon, how the hell did you just, in one sentence, make Chris Strike’s life choices seem normal by comparison?

Simon Raines: I’ve had more practice than he has.

Vivienne Robichaud: He’ll probably be happy to know that he’s not the only one with a “ keeps sticking his dick in crazy” problem.

Simon Raines: We can compare stories, and he won’t judge me. As it is, I’m almost afraid to tell you some of this because I’ll never hear the end of it.

Cthulhu Jones: It’s great bedtime reading though. Trust me.

Vivienne Robichaud: Fifty Shades of Raines?

Cthulhu Jones: Try 5000.

Vivienne just stares at her best friend in both horror and awe.

Simon Raines: That’s not fair! He’s counting the shapeshifting succubus as like, 1297 of those! Just because she could be a different woman every night!

Vivienne Robichaud: Shape… shifting… succubus. Literally what the fuck, Simon.

Eve: ...I keep getting more interested every time he opens his mouth.

Vivienne Robichaud: You and me both. I gotta say, I’m kind of glad Collins got rid of Daisuke now. You’re all right.

Eve: Oh if he hadn’t, his show would have gotten taken off the air when I murdered Daisuke live on TV. You could have brought popcorn!

Jonathan glares at Vivi.

Jonathan Collins: Hush up, you may find yourself in whatever ditch that hearse left him in if I’m not in a good mood. Alright, so Cthulhu, I need you and Ms. Tyler to help dig up stuff on whatever these black lanterns are for Mara. The more we all know, the better off we are. Just send expense reports.

Ruby Tyler: On it. You ready to have some fun, Tentacles?

Cthulhu Jones: That’s Mister Tentacles to you.

Ruby Tyler: As you wish, Mr. Tentacles.

Jonathan Collins: Simon, you and I are on duty to help finally decipher this goddamn Perfect Evil thing. Cyril, I trust you to help Eve with whatever she needs. And for the love of god, get someone to prevent Aiken from getting his hands on her...and I know you can hear me, Lucien.

Simon Raines: Got it, boss.

Aiken Frost: She’s not a priority yet. She will not be harmed unless harm comes to my sister by her hand.

Jonathan Collins: Good, then….Eve, you might want to stay close to Carey on this one.

Eve: I had no intent on letting my anchor out of sight.

Jonathan Collins: That leaves Hal. Reika, I need you and Chris to beat whoever it is to the zodiac. I want them protected at all costs. Mara, if you know anything else, since I haven’t seen you in a decade...we’ll deal with that as soon as you and Fiona finish whatever you two have left.

mara Collins: I will make it as quick as I can, brother mine….but you need to have dinner with me and my daughters soon.

Fiona Collins: Yeah, that is so not happening any time soon.

mara Collins: Well that’s just rude. I’m not inviting you anyways, you’re no fun and you’re a horrible influence on my niece.

Jonathan looks at Mara with a glare.

mara Collins: Jesus Christ, you’re killing my vibe, Jon. I’ll cook?

Jonathan Collins: You said your daughters. What about Mr. NoVaK?

mara Collins: He’s adorable, isn’t he?

Fiona Collins: No.

Jonathan Collins: Fine. I will come to dinner. You and Fi need to settle this without killing someone.

mara Collins: You’re ruining my fun...but I’ll see what I can do. I won’t kill her, but I’ll need a favor eventually.

Jonathan Collins: Very well. Alright, do we have anything else on this agenda we need to address? Ginny? Nicholas? Have we identified any other potential students with unique abilities we can work with?

Nicholas Gray: You mean anymore superpowers? ….no. Not a one.

Jonathan Collins: Cyril, anyone turn up anything worth noting on recent pre-show physicals?

Dr. Kuller: Sorry. It seems all the specials have already been found.

Jonathan Collins: Good. With us having dealt with the overwhelming bundle of crazy that Hal Snyder has caused us, we can focus on the wrestling issues. Seymour, this probably should relieve you somewhat. And Ms. Watanabe? Get me a meeting with that Kaiju.

Emi Watanabe: Sure - fair warning, though, the Galactic Pretty Boys and her Cosmos Fairies are probably going to have to come too. She detests leaving them behind.

Eve: A little harem of attractive people. How cute.

mara Collins: I have that too!

Eve: But you’re the cutest of that group.

mara Collins: ...is this technically incest, because I would. I totally would.

Eve: ...Let’s get this sorted in private.

Seymour Almasy: So did Christum Furor, and look at how well it worked for him.

Vivienne Robichaud: Does this mean we’re free to go?

Jonathan Collins: No, YOU are going to see if you can help Simon unlock everything. Perhaps it’s time you did something selfless, Ms. Robichaud.

Ginny laughs, and Vivienne glares at her from across the table.

Vivienne Robichaud: Did you not read everything in that little file techie girl has on me? ‘Selfless’ is not exactly in my wheelhouse.

Jonathan Collins: Well tonight is a night you learn to try to be selfless, if you’d like to remain under contract.

Vivienne Robichaud: ...Can’t say I’m not intrigued by what he’s been saying so far. So why the hell not.

Jonathan Collins: He’s also not to be harmed. Not a drop of blood spilled.

Eve: What’s the worst that could happen? His blood can grant immortality?

Vivienne Robichaud: ...Now there’s an idea. But I’m not sure how the Baron would feel about me stepping outside his domain.

Eve: Whoops sorry Simon. You might be in trouble.

Simon Raines: Suddenly, I am deeply worried about where this is going...

Jonathan Collins: I don’t think mortality is an issue for you, Eve.

Eve: Not for me but hey, it’s what everyone else wants!

Vivienne Robichaud: Besides, I only harm the ones I choose. Simon doesn’t fit that bill. And you would be surprised, Eve, by how many people embrace death willingly.

Eve: I wouldn’t be! I stabbed myself in the heart with a magic dagger. And then immortality evil things blah blah blaaahhhhhhh.

Cthulhu Jones: It’s not too bad. You find distractions. LIKE EVERYTHING.

mara Collins: ….are we going to have steak yet? This is a steakhouse, I was promised food.

Eve: My distractions are violence. Which is why I’m trying to get it under control. And you can, but I can’t taste steak. Or anything. Fucking annoying.

mara Collins: So brother mine told me. He had to stop eating Oreos, it was torture.

Jonathan Collins: It was the first thing I did after getting that thing in the dagger. It was heavenly.

mara Collins: He can now taste his own baked goods.

Simon Raines: Those baked goods are amazing, by the way.

Ginny Gerrard: THEY ARE.

Fiona Collins: It’s basically one of the reasons why I married him. Besides the fact that he’s amazing in bed.

mara Collins: You are gross.

Fiona Collins: Green is an ugly color on you, Sister mine.

mara Collins: First of all, ew. Secondly, your harlotry is really off putting. Thirdly, you are starting to agitate me.

Jonathan glares again at his sister to calm her down before Reika finally looks up for the first time in minutes outside of acknowledging Collins, chewing on a piece of steak that they damn near demolished before gulping it down before speaking up.

Reika Seragaki: Someone said baked goods...I'm listening.

Eve: I fucking hate you, Jon.

Jonathan Collins: You do realize that if you hadn’t lost the dagger, you could just get someone to stab you with it, right? Your problem would be solved.

Eve: It wasn’t me that lost it, MY HEAD WAS FUCKING EXPLODED BY A SHOTGUN SHELL! IT WAS LOST WHILE I WAS HEALING MY GOD DAMN SKULL!

She smacks her hands on the table.

Eve: Ah shit I’m going off-center.

Vivienne Robichaud: This conversation makes me feel refreshingly normal.

Seymour Almasy: Me, too! I didn’t think that was possible! So, let’s make sure everyone gets their steak, and the newbies get their Zubaz and the best inside joke in professional wrestling.

Vivienne Robichaud: I am not wearing those things.

Eve & Reika: Oh yes you are.

Eve turns to Reika and holds her hand up, expecting a high five for being in sync. Reika delivers it swiftly, the two sharing this moment accordingly.

Vivienne Robichaud: ...but they’re so… tacky.

Simon Raines: That’s the best part! I look good in these pants, and the jacket will complete the look!

Eve: Honestly I kind of like the pants.

Vivienne Robichaud: Two hundred plus years and you still have no sense of fashion, Simon.

Simon Raines: Well, if you listen to Mr. Tentacles, I’ve been naked for half of it.

Vivienne Robichaud: ...still.

Jonathan Collins: Cyril, what are the chances you can retrace her steps that night she got her skull shot to see if you can help her find that dagger? The worst case scenario is Eve and Mr. Caldwell go on a roaring rampage of revenge. And Virginia? We may have to speed up Danny’s recall into the Initiative.

Dr. Kuller: Ah, that shouldn’t be a problem…

Eve: Just ask your brother.

Dr. Kuller: …

Eve: ...Am I not suppose to be saying that stuff? Also maybe you should mention the knife was at ground zero of a big old explosion?

Dr. Kuller: ...yes. That.

Cthulhu Jones: EVERYONE STOP TALKING AND LOOK AT THE MAN WITH THE WEIRD FACE.

Eve looks at someone that isn’t Cthulhu.

Jimmy Riley: No, not me...him.

Mara cackles and pokes Eve playfully, grinning.

mara Collins: You are adorable! Can we keep her, brother mine?

Jonathan Collins: ………..

Eve: Oh, sorry, I just thought you might have sprouted a second head or something.

Jimmy Riley: Don’t doubt it, given everything else.

Eve: What I was going with!

Cthulhu Jones: If I now have everyone’s attention… as the oldest… thing... in this room, I’m pulling some rank. WHERE’S MY GODDAMNED STEAK.

mara Collins: FINALLY SOMEONE WITH SOME SENSE! I swear, it’s like the insane ones are the only ones who realize we’re here to eat.

Fiona Collins: I’ve been dying to get my hands on one ever since I walked in here. I thought this was a group dinner!

Seymour Almasy: Reika’s had hers for the past thirty minutes, somehow.

Eve: I was here to not get bored. Surprisingly enough I got what I wanted.

Jonathan Collins: Virginia, go tell the cooks we’re ready to eat. Please, thank you, and I figured this gives you some breathing room from the insanity.

mara Collins: All praise Cthulhu! I’ve always wanted to say that and not sound ridiculous.

Seymour Almasy: You need to get into tabletop gaming more.

mara Collins: Still won’t make you my type, Legolas.

Eve cackles.

Jimmy Riley: You, more than anything else, wife included, make me wonder why I married into these families.

Seymour Almasy: I wouldn’t sleep with you with Chris Strike’s dick. Or Simon’s, for that matter. At least not these days.

mara Collins: This joke will never get old. Okay, you can stay.

Cthulhu Jones: Eternally funny.

Eve: I think we could publish a joke book about Strike’s dick.

Ginny Gerrard: Oh thank GOD. Yeah, I’ll be right back. Also I have the recorder going so I can transcribe this later for Danny. Be right back!

Ginny gets up from her chair and runs into the kitchen to let them know everyone is ready to eat now, and within minutes, a team of waiters comes out with steaks for everybody. The group eats solemnly, knowing very well just how much is at stake for all of them.

Jonathan Collins: Alright, so Ms. Robichaud…

Jonathan turns around and glances directly at Vivi.

Jonathan Collins: Your connection to Daisuke and how much he told you. Go.

Eve: Oh I am so ready to hear this shit.

Fiona Collins: I’m dying to hear how this came about. This should be interesting.

Jimmy Riley: I’m still not, but go ahead.

Simon Raines: I am, too! Two-one in favor!

Reika Seragaki: Three-one.

Vivienne shoots a ‘this is all YOUR fault’ glare at Simon, then looks back at Jonathan Collins.

Vivienne Robichaud: I’m assuming you people are familiar with Daisuke, yes?

Eve: Is that a trick question?

Vivienne Robichaud: A rhetorical one, actually. Anyway, I guess he got wind of me in New Orleans, did a little digging on me and my family, and decided that I could be useful to him in accessing the Perfect Evil for himself. So he had me take a crack at a book that supposedly was going to give him a way to do that.

Cthulhu Jones: That was never going to work.

Vivienne Robichaud: Yeah well, I didn’t know that at the time, but it became rapidly clear that as a supervillain, Daisuke was a bit of a failure. He wanted power, and the night of the Autumn Effect, if he’d beaten Collins, the next step was to do a sacrifice ritual on Eve that would have extracted the power of the Perfect Evil and handed it to Daisuke.

Eve: ….pfffffft! That sucks for him! I was gonna be dead no matter what after Autumn Effect before he could get a hand on me!

Vivienne Robichaud: Like I said, not very good at what he set out to do. Problem for me was that during the match, I was already channeling some pretty big forces and when he got put in the hearse, well… everything rebounded. Which was not fun for me. Took me a few days to recover from that.

Simon Raines: Asshole. I’m glad he’s dead. Wait. He’s...actually dead, right? Like, legit dead?

Eve: He’d be far less happy if he wasn’t.

Vivienne Robichaud: To the best of my knowledge and ability, yes he is.

Cthulhu Jones: For now, probably.

Fiona Collins: I doubt he’s dead legitimately. Hiding out until the most opportune moment to strike again and create a cancer inside EXODUS again would be the more viable option, just being real here.

Vivienne Robichaud: Well if he’s coming back, don’t look at me. Raising the dead takes a whole lot of work and he is not worth me risking my neck to do that spell.

Cthulhu Jones: Remind me to never introduce you to my brother.

Eve: She’s totally gonna meet your brother.

Cthulhu Jones: He won’t like her. He’s… what’s the over dinner way of putting it? A Nazi.

Eve: ...what, like a real one?

Jonathan Collins: The truth is that we need to figure out one thing...what on earth is drawing all these forces to EXODUS Pro. Daisuke, for better or for worse, is dead, along with whatever he knew about The Perfect Evil. He devoted several years to chase me down and try to extract my right to the curse from me, hoping Hal would see he wanted it more than me. Of all of Hal’s pet projects, this was the one that he kept closest to his chest. He wanted the curse to end up with me, whether I wanted it or not...and I’ve hurt a lot of people trying to protect this curse and get rid of it. It’s damaged my sister...it’s affecting my relationship with Fiona...I want it done. And I want it to not hurt another soul....especially considering what it’s done to you, Eve.

Eve: Eh. The curse itself hasn’t done much to me. It’s other people that do shit to me.

Vivienne Robichaud: Hey, I got paid to be here.

Reika Seragaki: I'm just filling in for the jerk who got himself concussed in a title defense.

mara Collins: Jonathan...we defeated Hal. I’d like to believe we did. Now it’s time we slay the last of his remnants. And yes, I’m willing to put aside my issues with your darling wife that involve me killing her if she’s of some actual use and not just here because she wants to be in on everything. She wants to be trusted, well now she needs to be a warrior. She needs to be a Collins. Besides...I have heavy concerns.

Fiona looks over at mara with a glare unlike any she has unleashed before, her hands balling into fists.

Fiona Collins: I’ve been a Collins the second I said yes to Jonathan asking to marry me. If you want to sit there and question me and my abilities? Then fine, go ahead and do it. But don’t you even think about sitting there like you’re on some kind of goddamned high horse, thinking I’m not a Collins. Jonathan is my husband and I will be fighting at his side until the day I die. You can trust me on that, Sister.

Jonathan Collins: Let’s worry about you two after we leave here with everything sorted. So far, the only thing we have sorted is the Lifer situation. We still haven’t figured out if we’re just burning Ellum down or gift wrapping it for Aiken. Not to mention the retrieval of the dagger, the rounding up of these zodiacs, and what the hell we’re going to do about your lanterns.

Vivienne Robichaud: They make for nice accent pieces.

mara Collins: I should keep one on a coffee table…I need a coffee table.

Eve: I really like the look of the lanterns, you should lend me one for my room.

mara Collins: You do realize they trap your spiritual essence inside of them, thus giving the wielder complete and total control over you, yes? Essentially, Audrey and Brianna are...husks. Cute husks.

Seymour Almasy: …

Reika Seragaki: ...slightly kinky.

Eve: Fuck it I’m the Perfect Evil, let it try to eat me. I’ll overload it. IT’LL BE FUN!

Vivienne Robichaud: ...In that case, I’m not sure how much I want this thing. I had enough trouble dealing with Iwakuma and all he was doing was paying me.

Eve: Hey, it could be worse. You could’ve been involved in creating me. Then I’d have been unhappy with you.

Jimmy Riley: ...Are you SURE you don’t want this job back, Jon?

Jonathan Collins: Whose idea was it to remove me from office?

Jimmy Riley: In my defense, I didn’t realize exactly what was on our doorstep at the time.

Jonathan Collins: There was a reason I deliberately remained defiant in standing down, Jim. I was doing it to protect the monsters from the gate. Now that I’ve created all of this, I can afford to pool my abilities and resources into fixing more of this. You just have to trust me in all of this.

Seymour Almasy: More and more I understand why Jon laughed at me when I signed my contract to be QC Director.

Jonathan Collins: I swear, all you assholes laughed at me when I said that EXODUS needed me looking after shit. Well look at all that’s on our doorstep now and how we’ve made progress on protecting and containing it. This place will never be truly safe, but we’re trying. Whatever gateway to hell we opened by existing...I swear on my life we will shut that shit down and make the doorman regret keeping it open.

Jonathan sighs before looking at everyone and looking back down on his food.

Jonathan Collins: ….I’m just getting too old to do it on my own anymore. Soon, I won’t be enough to protect you guys...or Fi...or Madison. And that’s why I need everyone on the same page as soon as possible.

Fiona reaches over and slides her hand into her husband’s, giving it a gentle squeeze as she smiles warmly in his direction.

Fiona Collins: You don’t need to protect us, Jonathan. We’re here to help you protect this company and each other.

Eve: Well. I’m pretty well unable to get away, so I might as well help.

Jimmy Riley: Fi and I have stuck with you this long. And after all...we’re family.

For a moment, mara looks at Jonathan, saying nothing. With a place of her hand on his shoulder, the lights flicker, and when all things are normal, Mara is gone.

Jonathan Collins: ….lovely.

Eve: She’s my favorite.

Simon Raines: That makes...well, there’s a lot, but you’re the only one - wait, no Vivi’s here too. Fuck.

Jonathan Collins: Cthulhu? Nicholas? Cyril? What say you?

Jonathan looks around for Cthulhu, but he’s already gone.

Jimmy Riley: So...what, we taking those as “yes?”

Jonathan Collins: Jones? Probably. My sister? I don’t know.

Eve: I believe she’ll do the okay-ish thing.

Nicholas Gray: Jon, you’re committed to protecting this company and all of us. Of course I’m with you.

Reika Seragaki: ...Personally? I wouldn't trust any of you except the cute cursed girl. But Chris Strike, being who he is, probably trusts most of you with his life.

Vivienne Robichaud: Well, that’s a mistake on Strike’s part.

Reika Seragaki: Keyword here is most. Anyways, seeing as I get to be his wonderful guide through the leap of faith he took by having no choice BUT to trust Hal Snyder in order to put down Furor...well, I'm complying accordingly until this is all over and then I go back to living my life as a traveling hermit.

Eve: That sounds like a really good life, actually.

Reika Seragaki: With the kind of debauchery that Christian Kane probably wishes he had more time to get himself into.

Eve: ...you’re going to have to tell me more about this life. I’ll need something to do once I get this curse under control and I’m fascinated.

Dr. Kuller: Please do not encourage her.

Eve: You should totally encourage me.

Simon Raines: Funny. That sort of sounds like what I’ve been doing. Well. Until I woke up on the front step of a U.S base on Okinawa.

Vivienne Robichaud: Personally I’m more invested in protecting my own neck than anything else.

Reika Seragaki: You look the type, lady.

Vivienne Robichaud: Yeah well. Voodoo priestess and all.

Reika Seragaki: ...Something just came to mind. Where the hell is Stearns?

Eve: ...who’s gonna make the ipad joke first?

Fiona Collins: She’s not an ipad, guys. She’s clearly a Femmebot or some type of android device, right?

Seymour Almasy: When we’re done here, I need some information about a certain mental health facility. I...may or may not know someone in it.

Reika Seragaki: All I know is that the place can't be trusted and that I found Magdalena there only because I had gone through every single other mental care and psych ward place in the entire country inquiring about it. But no seriously, where is Da-

As if on cue, Darrin Stearns walks in by himself.

Darrin Stearns: Sorry I’m late, gang. I literally came here straight from the airport after getting Jon’s message. What’s the skinny?

Jonathan Collins: D…..ohh, buddy, we got a lot to catch up on.

Darrin Stearns: ….this is about Hal, isn’t it?

THERE IS A MOMENT OF REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE SILENCE.

Reika Seragaki: ...yuuuuup!

Darrin Stearns: We’re getting too old for this shit.

Eve: You’ll have to be filled in later, I’ve already claimed first shot talking to you.

Darrin Stearns: Can I eat first? I promise I’ll listen to whatever you have to say after I get my bearings back.

Eve: Eat fast. I can’t eat so it’s rude to eat in front of me, Darrin.

Darrin Stearns: What did I miss?

Jonathan Collins: Yeah, um...meet The Perfect Evil.

Darrin Stearns: But I though--you know what, fuck it, I’m just gonna go with this.

Eve: Why does everyone act surprised I admitted it on twitter and showed up on the bus bleeding from chest wounds that healed up instantly.

Darrin Stearns: I’ve been in denial that the thing is even actually a thing.

Eve: Sounds like you want a demonstration.

Reika Seragaki: Not in front of the normals! Last thing I need is to get kicked out for life from this place.

Eve: Oh fine. Only because you asked so nicely.

Jonathan Collins: We’ve kept Aiken hanging long enough...are we all in favor of sharing resources to help him acquire Ellum?

Nicholas Gray: Sure, why not, means we can have another Ribera meeting to deal with him. And I love these steaks.

Darrin Stearns: You’ve run from the devil long enough, Jon. Time he starts running from you.

? ? ?: I'm in favor.

The voice is a bit low but loud enough so it can be heard as Reika raises her phone up, showing a rather familiar face to those at the table.

Chris Strike: Reika skyped me through their phone a few minutes back and I've caught on to some of it. I am uneasy but if it means making sure Hal doesn't corrupt anyone else...it's a risk worth taking.

Fiona Collins: Hey, Padfoot! Fancy meeting you here…...through a computer screen no less.

Ginny Gerrard: You know I could’ve just added him to the Skype call on my laptop, right?

Chris Strike: And share a screen with Aiken Frost? ...Please.

Aiken Frost: I don’t know if I’m insulted or not.

Chris Strike: Take it however you see fit. You're a brand of crazy not even my penis would go anywhere near of if you were a female and therefore, you cannot be trusted.

Reika Seragaki: ...That's a first from you.

Eve: I think it’s better coming from him.

Vivienne Robichaud: So we finally found the line.

Simon Raines: It’s good to know that one exists, I think!

Dr. Kuller is furiously writing notes down.

Dr. Kuller: This is excellent science info.

Eve: Is there really a science to Chris Strike’s crazy fetish?

Dr. Kuller: There will be when I’m done.

Darrin Stearns: Thank you, Chris, for being the one person they think is stranger sexually than I am.

Simon Raines: ...yeah, about that, boss. You’re up to two now.

Chris Strike: Figured if I'm going to be the butt of the jokes, I might as well beat you to them...then again, bicentennial man over here has a case for being worse than I am.

Simon Raines: ...Reika, did you text him what’s been happening?

Reika Seragaki: Of course. While trying to figure out the Skype logistics. And eating. And staring at Eve's boobs. They look lovely, by the way.

Eve looks down at her chest and then back at Reika, smiling.

Eve: Why thank you! I might not be a fan of most things having to do with my creation, but these...yeah, I’m a fan.

Darrin Stearns: I could have stayed retired...how did I let Jon talk me into this?

Jonathan Collins: You missed this. But seriously, Chris...how much of this zodiac thing could backfire on Hal if used against him?

Chris Strike: From what Zinkus translated? Whoever it is that gets all twelve marks under his control has enough power to probably conquer a nation if they felt like it.

Eve: The amount of people that wanna take over the world is really tiring.

Chris Strike: That's what I said. I just want to make sure this shit doesn't get used the wrong way. Even Hal seemed keen on that given he scattered them but with this Gemini running amok, I'm not even sure what his angle is on this one anymore.

Vivienne Robichaud: ...Hm. Fascinating.

Jonathan instantly swings his hand to point at Vivi.

Jonathan Collins: We are keeping you FAR from them as possible. I’ve been keeping tabs on your little army building, Ms. Robichaud. But Chris, you and Reika need to beat Hal to the zodiac. And you and I will protect the Moth thing.

Emi Watanabe: Like I said. Anyone who comes for the kaiju’s getting skullfucked.

Chris Strike: What does GOTHRA have to do with anyth-............ah, fuck she's the one you were talking about, isn't she?

Reika Seragaki: Pretty much.

Vivienne Robichaud: WHAT army? Or are we counting Naiser as a one-man army now?

Jonathan Collins: Don’t play coy. You are the last person trusted with anything in this room, considering I’m convinced you’ll sell your mother out for a meal.

Eve: He’s got the arms to be.

Reika Seragaki: To be an army or her mother?

Eve: ...Yes.

Vivienne Robichaud: Can we leave my mother out of this, please? Seriously though, if it’s army building you’re concerned with, Collins, might want to check out what your sister’s been doing.

Jonathan Collins: Believe me, I’m in the process of that.

Vivienne Robichaud: Okay, but I’m still not seeing how my… whatever he is, constitutes building an army.

Simon Raines: There’s also Damon, but he’s part of Elizabeth’s army these days, it seems.

Vivienne Robichaud: Yes, I seem to have lost most of my hold on him. So he doesn’t really count, since he’s decided to serve an inferior. And then there’s you, Simon, I suppose, if only because of our friendship.

Simon Raines: Yeah, but I’ve done enough of the “do the bidding of the woman with mysterious powers” thing for one...no, two...three...I think it’s like around five lifetimes now, depending on life expectancy.

Eve: How long is your life expectancy if you’ve been going since the 1800s?

Simon Raines: I should have been dead when I was thirty-five tops, probably. Who knows, though?

Eve: Hmmmmm…..

Vivienne Robichaud: Oh, unraveling the mystery of Simon Raines is going to be fun.

Eve: I’m in complete agreement.

Simon Raines: ...you said no blood, right, Jonathan?

Jonathan Collins: Not unless Cyril thinks he can do something with a blood test that doesn’t involve robots and or cybernetic implants.

Eve: He’s actually useful for more than just that.

Dr. Kuller: Not now.

Jonathan Collins: Anyone opposed to us making a deal with Aiken?

Reika Seragaki: Seal it.

Fiona Collins: No opposing here from the wife, Captain. I say go for it.

Jonathan Collins: Jimmy, you and I will go meet Aiken on neutral ground and iron out the terms. Are you comfortable with that, Frost?

Aiken Frost: I’m prepared for that. I’ll make sure our meeting is as comfortable as possible for all.

Jimmy Riley: Got it.

Jonathan Collins: Great, problem two solved. Virginia, you and Zinkus are on black lantern duty. Get any folklore and legend you can find on something similar to them and see if we can use them to right that ship. We know what’s going on with the zodiac now. Do we have any other problems we need to address?

Eve: Nooooo….I promised.

Chris Strike: Carey's suspension still needs to be addressed.

Eve: I’m waiting for ipadman to finish eating. And I’ll even stop calling him that if he hurries up.

Darrin Stearns: Can we keep him contained if we lift his suspension?

Jonathan Collins: Eve is taking accountability for him.

Darrin looks at her with a little bit of unease.

Darrin Stearns: I watched you set fire to someone.

Eve: He left me topless on internet TV. I still get tweets directing me to sites that have those photos. He’s lucky I didn’t fucking castrate him live.

Darrin Stearns: ...if you two don’t kill anyone, I’ll lift his suspension.

Eve: I can promise I won’t kill anyone and promise that I will do my level best to keep him from killing Cassidy. Maiming, disfiguring, paralyzing, and rendering unable to sleep for the rest of her life is totally fair game though.

Vivienne Robichaud: Have I mentioned how much I like her?

Eve: People fucked over by Daisuke have to stick together.

Simon Raines: I’m actually terrified of both of you.

Vivienne Robichaud: Amen, girl. And Simon… you should be.

Chris Strike: Well, that answers that. Reika, fill me in on whatever else from here, I'm gonna go now before the brightness of this fucking thing becomes a bigger pain in the ass.

Reika Seragaki: Got it. Everyone say goodbye to the dude who fucks crazy chicks!

Eve: Goodbye from a crazy chick!

Vivienne Robichaud: And from everyone’s favorite voodoo priestess!

Simon Raines: Goodbye, Chris. We’ll have to talk soon.

Chris Strike: ...You're all assholes, you know that? Except Simon, Ginny and Jon. Maybe Darrin. Later.

The sound of a beep on Reika's phone is heard as Chris disappears from the screen and they pocket their phone back.

Simon Raines: ...he’s gonna be less happy when I ask to compare notes about sleeping with crazy chicks with him.

Jonathan Collins: Anything else, gang?

Seymour Almasy: My concerns have been addressed. Actually sort of happy right now.

Vivienne Robichaud: Can I PLEASE get out of here now?

Jonathan Collins: You’re free to go, but know this...if I as much sniff at you getting out of line, you will be smacked down so hard, your ancestors will feel it for the next six generations. I don’t want you doing as much as forming an army, an alliance, or influencing any of my students or Mr. Raines in any way, shape, or form. Are we clear?

Vivienne Robichaud: I could have brought some of my ancestors, but customs would have asked a lot of questions if they found bone dolls in my luggage.

Jonathan Collins: Is my point clear, Ms. Robichaud?

Vivienne Robichaud: Crystal, Mr. Collins.

Jonathan Collins: You’re free to go. Simon….you’re here for a bit longer. Ms. Robichaud, tomorrow I want you to start seeing if you can help jar Simon’s memory. Virginia, I want you and Daniel supervising that.

Reika Seragaki: That's a musical number with her dressed up as Dr. Facilier waiting to happen.

Vivienne Robichaud: Princess and the Frog references, really? But I have some ideas on how to knock a few more things loose from his memory. Smacking him in the head seemed to work pretty well to start the process… though now apparently I can’t land a hit to save my goddamn life, so I’ll have to get creative.

Jonathan Collins: Virginia, I want it all documented. You and Daniel will report straight to me. I want to be in the loop at all times.

Ginny Gerrard: You got it, boss.

Reika Seragaki: Well, thank you for the Asahis and steak. But it's time for me to grab me a new jacket for the collection and then be on my way to see some more sights.

Vivienne Robichaud: Why have the 80s not ended here?

Eve: Oh does this count for getting a jacket? SCORE!

Reika Seragaki: Consider the fact the owners of a wrestling company paid for all of this...yes, using it to grab my second jacket. You all have fun with whatever else you end up doing.

Reika stood up from her seat, zipped up the hoodie and departed towards the counter, a small wave given to the group as she begins firing rapidly in Japanese with one of the staff members, probably in regards to the jacket.

Eve: Clever.

Jonathan Collins: Ms. Watanabe, how soon can I get that sit down with Gothra?

Emi Watanabe: All caps next time. She can tell if you don’t, even when you speak. And probably within the next 24 hours? I’ll let her know we have business. Where’s the meetup?

Jonathan Collins: I’ll get a private meeting spot for us at a garden area I know outside of the city. Better for us to be in a quiet, peaceful, and more anonymous space than in plain sight.

Emi Watanabe: Alright. Just be ready for a crowd. Also, I have no idea what the Hell I’m going to tell those two idols, so I’ll let you handle that one.

Jonathan Collins: Okay, okay. Have I forgotten anything here before we go try to get some damn sleep?

Nicholas Gray: We’ll need to find the rest of our WEAPONs.

Jonathan Collins: I have an Indigo chosen, I just need to figure out the right way to approach him.

Nicholas Gray: In this place? Might as well just get right to his face and ask if he wants to wear spandex.

Jonathan Collins: This kid is a special case. We still need orange and yellow.

Nicholas Gray: I might have an idea. I’m waiting to see how it plays out.

Jonathan Collins: Good. Cyril, stay the course. I want you and Darrin to notify me of anything that pops up in the school immediately. Meanwhile, I’ve got everything else under control. We can all finally go to sleep, I think.

Dr. Kuller: I’m keeping many eyes out.

Jonathan Collins: I legitimately think you’re really keeping many eyes out, as you have cybernetic eyes everywhere.

Dr. Kuller: That’s what I meant. Also, I’d advise everyone to be really careful of where you have sex. I can always start a side business selling tapes!

Jonathan Collins: How many Christian Kane ones have you made?

Dr. Kuller: I legitimately could fill several of Simon’s lifetimes with them. I’ve stopped recording him because there’s so much already.

Jonathan Collins: ….I’m not even surprised.

Darrin Stearns: Neither am I---you’re not recording me thanks to Marilyn, are you?

Dr. Kuller just smiles at him.

Darrin Stearns: Son of a bitch.

Dr. Kuller: To be fair, you never asked if I did before. Which, really, you should have. It’s a robot I made, why wouldn’t it be covered in cameras.

Darrin Stearns: SEE? IT’S AN ANDROID. AN ANDROID. NOT AN IPAD! BIG DIFFERENCE!

Dr. Kuller: Well, there’s probably enough Apple parts in her to count as one. And you should hope those words stay in these walls.

Darrin looks at everyone….and sighs.

Fiona Collins: That’s what you get, D. You let Kuller make you a homemade girlfriend.

Darrin Stearns: Just kill me now.

Eve: Okay!

Dr. Kuller: Not serious!

Eve: aw…..

Jonathan Collins: Alright, let’s go home, or to whatever we’re calling the hotels. I’m tired and I have a lot to think about.

Eve: I don’t sleep, so I’m just gonna wander the streets until I find something to do. Grabbing my jacket and getting into mischief, bye.

One by one as people file out after steak and the meeting, Jonathan sighs and looks at Ginny, shutting her laptop.

Jonathan Collins: Go back to the husband, Virginia. You deserve a nice day with Danny before we go back to work. I’ll be back at the hotel with Fi shortly.

Ginny Gerrard: Yeah, you’re right about that. Do I really have to watch Vivi and Simon though? She’s kind of freaky. And he seems to like it. So I’m not sure I want to be around if something happens.

Jonathan Collins: She’s up to something...and if we let her roam Simon’s mind unchecked, whatever secrets are inside may wind up being used against us….and that could hurt us all.

Ginny Gerrard: All right, I see. I’m gonna go back to my husband now. See you tomorrow?

Jonathan Collins: Take care, kiddo. I’ll see you after some sleep.

After giving his surrogate sister a hug, he lets her leave, leaving Jonathan Collins alone now, save for his wife.

Voice: And this is why you don’t allow children to play with warheads…

Jon doesn’t flinch when he hears the voice, gruff and deep, travelling across the room and making the endless array of wrestler’s portraits shake with the very power of it all. He turns, half an eye glancing at the solitary figure sat in the eastern corner swallowing mouthful upon mouthful of bloody red meat. His face raises, still obscured by the grey hood shadowing his identity.

Voice: The simple little things in life always become so much more complicated if left unchecked, do they not? It seems anyone with a tiny, little bit of desire can avoid the gazing looks of the system to create their own little world. Land, sea, trees, lakes, even life itself. You leave them to their own devices and they can play God as much as the next man, with the correct resources.

The figure in grey stands, fresh blood dripping from his maw that he wipes away with a clean, white napkin. Plate upon plate lay before him, almost licked clean of any evidence that anything existed upon it. He approaches the first couple, head bowed and shoulders heavy, and sits himself across from them, his shadowed gaze capturing their attention. He pulls down his hood, revealing a espresso haired figure they know so well. Andreas Lasiewicz.

Andreas Lasiewicz: This should not have been left unchecked for so long, old friend. Look at what has just been assembled to simply discuss such a matter, never mind cure what disease has been spread across our own little world. They always do say wear a condom before you stick your dick in the unknown…

A brief yet unhumourous laugh breaks from the Krakow Native’s lips. His glare though, is quite serious.

Andreas Lasiewicz: Your old friend Hal Snyder is a fool, I have always said that. My sister was a fool to try to save Chris Strike, I told her that myself. Chris Strike is a fool for going by those means to save what was built, as is the friend he brought with him. So joyous, so righteous he was. Yet, he used and abused like the very worst of us. And he submitted to a will that he is quite unsure of. One that may have mattered nought in the greater scheme of things, but may matter for everything in the very end. Those that submitted to Hal’s selfish and idiotic will are all fools. None of them truly know what they have unleashed. Oh, they know there is trouble ahead… But to the extent? They do not have a fucking clue…

He pauses, jabbing a steely sharp knife into an untouched steak, bloody and red that lays before him.

Andreas Lasiewicz: As they are clueless to the source of this meat, clueless to what they oppose, clueless to the motives of those they sat across only moments ago. We may have been sat across from our greatest friend and our worst enemy.

He takes a bite out of the inviting and juicy red meat, his eyes never leaving their gaze.

Andreas Lasiewicz: You never can tell until swords are drawn. Even then, it could be a mask of the masquerade, a slow dance to confuse and entice. I’ve seen it, I know it well. But even I through all of my travels, even I sometimes struggle to comprehend its meaning. There is always an endgame to it all. It is simply discovering what it is.

Another bite, juicy and rich. He devoured it in the merest of moments.

Andreas Lasiewicz: Sometimes you allow hell to open, the very gates of it yourself welcomed. Sometimes you allow these monsters and spirits and whatever the fuck you wish to call them to enter our world and let them rape and pillage until the final moment. And then you slit their throats, just when everyone thinks it is all but over.

He gazes up, his eyes flashing for the briefest of moments.

Andreas Lasiewicz: Their throats weren’t slit, old friend...

Jonathan Collins: Listen to me, Andreas.

Jonathan smiles as he looks at him, thinking for a moment before leaning back and taking a deep breath, nodding again for a moment.

Jonathan Collins: Every piece has its part to play. Hal didn’t choose me just because I’m a pretty face with a penchant for violence. Hal picked me because I was smart. Because I knew how to play the game as well as he did. Hal chose me because there’s few people on earth that can keep the machine moving like he does.

Jonathan, taking a moment to stop and let the moment build, takes a sip of his drink before putting it down.

Jonathan Collins: For the right reasons, the pieces are in motion. Yes, the enemy is at the gate, but by the time he opens it, I’ve set enough in motion that there’s going to be another gate behind it. Don’t you worry about Hal, I have it taken care of. I want you ready for when we unleash hell on Kramer. But if you’ve got ideas and concerns, speak ‘em. We’ll keep the ball rolling where we want it to go. That’s why you and I have managed to get EXODUS to this point.

Andreas pauses for the briefest of moments, staring at what is left of the flesh he has recently devoured.

Andreas Lasiewicz: Keep them on their path. Yet keep your eyes open, and the eyes of those that you only trust wholeheartedly. A knife in the back can come from many a source.

He pauses, a knife missing the steak and ramming into the table, sinking deep into the woodwork.

Andreas Lasiewicz: And to answer your ‘friends’... there is reason for Évelyne being where she is right now. As there a reason why nobody should prod their nose into the matters involving Blackthorn Asylum…

Andreas clears his throat, struggling with his words before Jonathan chimes in.

Jonathan Collins: Well all things considered, I’d wager mara has that under control. I saw the look on her face. She knows something we don’t, and that gives us a distinct advantage. I just...have to reach her through the static in her head right now. You, Andreas, need to worry less about Chris and worry about Nick Kramer. He’s unhinged, and he’ll make a mistake to try to be considered an omega-level threat. I don’t know if he’ll go after Kayla and the twins or one of your other children...but Kramer will do something stupid. We both know it. So what’s your game plan for him?

Andreas smiles, that one smile that Jonathan knows means trouble, both for him and the company as a whole.

Andreas Lasiewicz: Less than one… more than another…

He wipes his maw one last time, placing the napkin on the table before standing.

Andreas Lasiewicz: You trust too much, old friend. You and your wife. This trust is what will bite you, devour you, destroy you. Everything you have built. What Nick has built, What Jimmy has built. What we have built.It is your greatest flaw. Everyone has a motive, everyone has a use. Everyone will take advantage at the openness you have just shown. For awhile, it may be beneficial. In the aftermath, maybe not…

He leans over the table, a malicious grin upon his face.

Andreas Lasiewicz: Everyone has a name, everyone has a name for a specific reason. May it be from birth, may it be from symbolism, may it be from one earned, or given, or stolen… You would be good to remember this.

He paces from the table, slapping a bald headed figure with a gruff and wiry blond beard who sat silently alone in the far end of the room. His presence had been ignored for the entirety of this meeting, though the faint hint of perfume had been slowly filling the room in the absence of the majority. The figure glares at Andreas, then begins to peel off the fake skin upon his head. After some time, the man’s face is revealed, an enigmatic and beautiful man with a faint look of disdain upon his features.

Jonathan Collins: Goddammit, Kamijo. You better have something worth adding to this, or we’ll find out how sympathetic and trusting I really am. There’s steak knives and I’m not in a good mood.

TAFKA Prince Kamijo: Moi was this CLOSE to a Fiona Collins’ nip slip, gosh darn you!

Fiona glares in the direction of Kamijo as he shakes his head, promptly after getting another slap around the head from the man from Poland.

TAFKA Prince Kamijo: Fine, fine. Moi has a complete recording of the entirety of this conversation. Visual and verbally. Moi would wish you would study this for all methods including hardcore fappage. I mean, have you SEEN Vivi’s backside?

Andreas slapped Kamijo one more time, this time Kamijo realising that they were being serious right now.

Andreas Lasiewicz: Suggestion?

TAFKA Prince Kamijo: Fine, fine. Moi will be at work. Though there is a suggestion to make. Though if you actually wish to share this, Andreas… Tis a completely different matter.

Andreas Lasiewicz: Go on…

TAFKA Prince Kamijo: Moi really hates to bring this up but… Oh God, Moi hates Moi’s self...St Petersburg?

Andreas goes to slap Kamijo one last time, a wave of emotion overcoming him. He then pauses in his movement as Kamijo flinches.

Andreas Lasiewicz: Clever boy...

Jonathan Collins: You want to go into detail, Andreas?

Andreas Lasiewicz: No…

Andreas simply shakes his head, glaring at the Japanese aristocrat who is now standing, albeit looking frightened for his life.

Andreas Lasiewicz: Some things should only be known to those that are known… But the boy has a point… Leave this in our hands…

Jonathan Collins: Fair enough. I’ll trust you to tell me when the time is right. In the meantime, send him on his way.

Andreas nods at Kamijo, who snaps his fingers. Nothing happens, and he stands there dumbfounded.

TAFKA Prince Kamijo: HOW THE HELL DO YOU DO THAT? IT NEVER WORKS FOR MOI!

Kamijo then turns and leaves the restaurant, muttering many curses under his breath. Andreas looks upon the Collins family with a sly knowing grin upon his face.

Andreas Lasiewicz: You know what I would do, but you would never allow it. For now, this suggestion will do. I will leave you with that. Dobranoc, my friends.

As he paces towards the door, he turns one last time.

Andreas Lasiewicz: By the way… this is how it should be done.

He snaps his fingers. And he is gone, and so are we.