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| Part three: mind games | |||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | |||||||||||||||||||
| The Grease Monkey - a biker bar that happened to be one of Man Basher's favorite haunts. All of them found great levity in the fact that someone was able to infiltrate the Prince's tower and almost waste him. Typical Ventrue - such a thing would never happen to Brujah. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "Man - if we do find that boy - I say we make him an honorary Brujah. I mean - as an anarch he kicks ass - but this is just over the top," one of the bikers commented. Man Basher finished her beer and tossed the empty bottle over her shoulder. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "I like that. The boy may be a nut - but he has style. He is definitely a fearless mother fucker. I mean - how many times have we said we wanted to do some crazy shit like that? Skamms - he doesn't talk - he does," she added. Just then - Dr. jest entered the bar and looked around. The biker next to Man Basher nudged her to let her know who had just meandered in. "Oh my - he's a pretty one," she remarked. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "I am looking for one called Man Basher - is he or she here?" he asked curiously. Man Basher hopped up and slowly walked over to where the doctor was standing. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "You are very - pretty. I can think of a few people here that would love to have a few moments alone with you," she remarked - licking her lips. Several of the bikers laughed. Dr. Jest smiled at her. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "Are you one of them?" he retorted. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "Don't think you could handle someone like me - I tend to play a little rough," she began in a blur of motion she threw a punch at him. Without blinking - his hand shot up and caught her fist - with his free hand he lightly slapped her on the cheek. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "I like people that play rough. Are you she whom I seek?" he asked curiously - instantly releasing her fist. She looked over the man before her and smirked. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "I've been called worse," she replied. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "May I speak with you then?" he asked civilly. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "You mean privately? Someone's a fast operator," she remarked humorously. Several of the bikers laughed. Dr. Jest quietly laughed. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "If it isn't too much trouble. If you wish we can talk out here - but what I have to say - is for selective hearing and you may not want it publicly known," he pointed out. A serious look crossed her face. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "If you think to blackmail me," she began - every biker was instantly to his/her feet. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "I - would do no such thing. But as a Primogen - you must know that certain things - must be kept discreet - true?" he asked calmly - unmoved by the potential show of aggression. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "Nerves of steel and a face carved in stone - I like that. Hold my calls. I want to show our guest a good time," she sarcastically remarked. The bikers taunted and teased as the two made their way through the bar and into the backroom. Once there - she shut the door and looked over at the person that wanted to speak to her. "Your dime cutie - what's on your mind?" she asked as she hopped up onto her desk and sat down. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "I know - for a fact - that Skamms has been in your territory - five times - since this blood hunt has been called. And I know - that you and yours - did nothing," he commented. All levity drained from her and instantly she had two guns drawn - armed and aimed at him. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "You working for that Ventrue dog in heat?" she demanded. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "Am I?" he replied. She studied his expressions and mannerisms and slowly lowered the guns. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "No - why bring that up though if you aren't? You hope to blackmail me?" she asked. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "Heh - no. I like to play rough - but I know better than to mess with a lady like you," he replied - the comment made her laugh. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "Lady am I? Well - aren't we just prim and proper? So why did you?" she asked. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "Skamms - is a - close friend of mine. When people do right by him - they do right by me. Nice place you have here - belonged to Axis?" he asked curiously. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "Yeah - how did you know?" she asked. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "Has his mark on it. The smell - the feel - it just screams him. I - am of the Clan Malkavian and I will be playing a joke - a big one - on the prince of this city," he remarked as he looked around the room. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "I love it when outsiders think big. What does that have to do with me?" she asked. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "Well - two things - one - I wanted to thank you for - looking the other way while Skamms was passing through - and to give you this," he stated as he flipped an envelope to her. She was about to open it when he motioned for her to stop. "Not yet - that is part of the prank. It will take place - in about two or more days - depending on how things go. But regardless of that - exactly two days from this time - open that and go to the place stated within. I promise you - you will not be disappointed," he remarked. She looked at the envelope. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "What happens if I open it sooner?" she asked. Dr. Jest slowly got up. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "You will be very disappointed - and the joke will lose it's punch line," he replied. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "And this has to do with the prince?" she asked curiously. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "And - what happened to the prince," the doctor added. At first she didn't get it - but then it sunk in. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "You mean Axis?" she asked under her breath. Dr. Jest nodded. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "Two days - from this time. It will be a blast. So tell me - was it good for you?" he sarcastically remarked. Man Basher looked at the envelope and then over at the Malkavian. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "If this is half - as interesting as you are building it up to be - you just rocked my world," she replied. Dr. Jest quietly laughed as he left the room. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "That's what I like to hear," he remarked. Man Basher sighed and looked at the envelope and tried to think of what was inside and why she had to wait two days. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "Two days huh? Okay Mook - I'll wait it out," she muttered as she stuffed the envelope into her purse and the returned back to where the biker crowd was waiting. "Next round's on me ladies and gents - drink up!" she called out. The bikers cheered as she made her way over to where her friends were waiting and resumed their conversation. | |||||||||||||||||||
| To be continued... | |||||||||||||||||||