butchoneal

[butchoneal]

The Case : Part Three

Butch: {This was one of those instances where you realized that you missed someone more than you thought you did. I always knew that it had to be eating Jose up that I just disappeared without a trace. I would have been the same way if the tables were reversed. I couldn’t tell him anything. Still couldn’t. I shouldn’t even be here but here I was. There was no reverse on this ride. The nagging pull down the alleyway reminded me why, exactly, I was here. My old partner was about to walk into a horror movie and he was in no way prepared for that. Not on my watch. I glanced back at the dead body and realized that it was actually a male vampire. How I missed that one, I don’t know. I took in the crime scene with more knowledge than Jose had at his disposal. Lesser attacks vampire, vampire puts up one hell of a fight before his ticket was punched, and the lesser crawls away an oozing black mess to lick his wounds. It was probably ruled that the lesser was dead but I knew for a fact that it was difficult to kill those bastards. Given enough time they could come back from most injuries like nothing had happened. And I felt it. I felt him getting stronger by the minute. I not so casually put myself between Jose and back of the alley where I could feel the lesser hiding out.} You don’t know what you are dealing with on this one, buddy. Trust me, you don’t want to go look at that other guy. This is what I’ve been dealing with, this is what I’ve been trying to keep off the streets. And you’re not ready for it.

Jose: (I tried to keep composure. I felt as if I just laid my eyes on a ghost. I have never given up searching for O’Neal but damn, for him to just trot down this alley as we had just spoken yesterday…. My mind wandered back to all the whispering about how my partner had become corrupt. I ignored it, nobody knew him as well as I did. He had an unorthodox way of questioning, that was no doubt, but he was all about solving the case. I knew he always carried around his personal demons, you seen it in his eyes when he thought no one was paying attention. You don’t spend as much time with someone as we cops do without profiling each other. It's just what the job made you.) O’Neal, you are just as ugly as you were the last time I saw you. ( what the fuck was up with the leather attire, was he working undercover? I scratched my head as I eyed him up and down.) Are you wearing lifts in your shoes? I don’t recall you being so tall, you using special enhancers? (The questions were building up faster than my mind could keep up with, he had a lot of explaining to do but first, I had a few dead bodies, and I needed to survey the crime scene.) Like hell I’m not ready, when have I ever walked away from a case. (I gave him a hard look, hoping he read my mind knowing I never stopped looking for him. There was no stone I left uncovered. People just don’t fall off the face of the earth, as he did.)

Butch: {Lifts in my shoes? It kind of startled me that I hadn't even thought about the fact that I was taller now. Right... I was bigger now too but that could be explained by working out a ton. The height though? That was another thing altogether.} You're just not use to seeing me in biker boots. {Maybe that would explain it. I knew him though. He saw things like I did. He picked up on details that others wouldn't see. There was very little that I was actually going to get away with. I was scared for Jose. What this would mean for him. A wipe would drive him insane with questions and headaches. I was still trying to think my way out of that basket of cats when he brought me back to reality. The case. His case to be precise. I was just a tourist in his mind. Even though this one was actually all mine, he just didn't know it yet. I was the one that was going to figure out who the dead vampire was. Then I would have to make the house visit to his parents. He was staring at me like I should be ashamed of myself and it took me a minute to piece the puzzle together. He wasn't just talking about the bodies on the ground. I felt like shit but I didn't hide from it. I met his gaze straight on and let him see how sorry I was for leaving that loose end. I was the case that he never solved.} We can talk about it later. {Maybe. I don't know. I really shouldn't but I wanted to.} Right now I'm begging you to let me deal with the guy down the alley.

Jose: Like fuck I will. (Blurted out of my mouth without a second thought.) I will walk back in that alley and handle this case like I have all the others..On/My/Own. (I was happy as hell to know he was alive, but, until he could convince me he wasn’t Whodini I was not going to let him take the lead. I didn’t know what he was up too, or if he was even still on the up and up.) Now, you can even walk back with me or you can wait for your own  backup, but, last I checked this was my jurisdiction. (If this was still the partner I once knew he didn’t give a fuck about whose turf this was on. But nor did I.)

Butch: {There really was no sense in trying to explain this one. I had been in the same position that Jose was now in. It was what got me into a gigantic mess with a ton of vampires in the first place. Stubborn had to be a prerequisite for the job of detective. We never took 'fuck off' for an answer.} You don't know how wrong you are, partner. But you are about to... This is actually my jurisdiction... {I reached into my jacket and palmed a gun tucked in its holster under my arm. I wasn't taking any chances. For all I knew the lesser was up and ready to tango. I took lead, not willing to let Jose walk into the cluster first. I motioned for him to take cover and he probably thought I was insane. By all accounts there was a dead body down the alley and I was approaching like it was a crazed psycho with a gun.}

Jose: (I don’t know what acid trip he was on, but I was no little bitch. I wasn’t taking cover behind him. I didn’t care if the Jolly Green Giant had nothing on him.) Hold up daddy long legs. (I hurried until I was right next to him. We would be seeing this side by side. I turned and motioned for my boys to stand down, ONeal was acting strange with this and I wasn’t going to take a chance of losing any of my men.) So, what precinct are you working at now? I never seen a transfer for you come across the wire. (trust me I would have seen anything about him come over. I was still investigating his disappearance. Short of a supernatural event, I had left no stone uncovered.) What is your Commander's name and badge number? (If I was right he had none of that shit.)

Butch: Ever the detective, aren't you? {I laughed and shook my head as he joined me. Not like he had anything to fear from a dead body.} You know damn well I didn't transfer out of shit. I'm not even here right now... {Anything else I was about to say trailed off as I saw exactly what it was that we were headed toward. I had all kinds of improved skills now that I was a vampire. Seeing and hearing were just some of them. I watched as the pale bastard lifted his head up to look at us. Somehow he'd dragged his sorry carcass off the ground and looked like he was ready for round two. Soon as he saw me he realized he wasn't faced with some poor civilian this time though. My lips curled back in a growl. Almost too late I saw the gun. The lesser raised it and pointed right at the human, the one that he knew he could take down with one shot. It was like everything was moving in slow motion. I was faster now but that didn't mean that I could dodge bullets. What I did manage to do was push Jose out of the way. It was instinct and I would do it again without a second thought. The bullet hit my shoulder and spun me to the side. My return shot went off its mark. I was aiming for right between the eyes but what I actually hit was the side of his neck. Tore it open wide and sent black blood sailing through the air just before the lesser slapped his hand over the wound.}

Jose: {Oh, not here. What a load of crap} You always were a dancer with words O’Neal. {I kept my eyes peeled as we kept up the chat.} So, I know this is a long shot, but the Mrs. and I have an ongoing bet. She says a female has tamed you and I said you ran away from being tied down. Who is right? Be honest man, diamonds are in the balance of this answer. {Of course my wife always seen the good in my partner and thinks he was tamed by a female. I, on the other hand, I think he ran from one…...I shook my head as I thought I heard a growl come from my cohort. The sound of a gun shot whistled through the air and before I knew it I was flying. The landing was a bit extreme and I saw stars. Not the kind in the sky but in my head, or maybe that was birds twirling around. I shook my head, trying to get my bearings straight. I noticed ONeal’s shoulder flinch, I was sure he was hurt.} Butch, {I whispered out and I scrambled to get to my feet.} You okay man? {looking down the alley, I couldn’t really see what was going on. I took off trying to make my way down. Obviously, our perp wasn’t dead.}

Butch: {I watched in horror as Jose ran straight into the fray. Of course he did, he had to get closer to the action to take care of it after all. I would have done the same thing in his place. The lesser raised his gun once more and I was certain that my old partner was a goner. The click was like an answered prayer. Out of bullets. I sent up a silent thank you to all that was holy and kept pace with Jose. He would see soon enough the evil that stood at the end of the alley leaking black oil all over the place. Humans just don't do that. I wondered what his take on it would be. My good arm was next to useless now. I hissed as I holstered my gun. Yeah, that shoulder thing would smart a little in the morning. A dagger found the palm of my other hand instantly. Thing is, you could riddle a lesser with bullets but nothing was going to do the job like a dagger. Jose's bullets wouldn't exactly pack the same punch as mine would. This lesser's bad day was about to get worse.} He won't go down easy, Jose. Watch yourself. {I ignored all of the other questions. I only wished that my disappearance was as simple as he made it sound. For a second I debated whether I should talk to him just to keep his mind off of what he was about to see. But I knew the detective in him would be able to process it all no matter what happened.}

Jose: (I side eyed Butch as he told me to watch myself. “What the fuck, when did you become a knife man?” Hell, that thing was tight and all but damn, it looked like it would be a machete in my hand. I had to put all my questions behind me. I had to unload on this perp for shooting my partner, ex-partner. I held up my gun and started firing shots. The closer I got though my eyesight was not quite right. “Is that black blood I see?” I stopped in my tracks and notices my bullets wasn’t even affecting this perp. “Yo, Dorothy, I don’t think we are in Kansas anymore.” If I saw some flying monkeys I was going to drug test myself. “I feel like I am being punked here, you and your crazy features and now this. What kind of X-File bullshit have I walked into here.” If he tells me he was abducted and got an anal probing I will call it a day and hand in my badge.)

Butch: You can't say I didn't try to warn you, Jose. {I tucked my bad arm in against my stomach in an attempt to keep the shoulder as immobile as possible. This was going to suck a little bit but I'd been through worse scrapes. The lesser snarled at Jose and chucked the useless gun at him, as if that would get him to stop shooting. My partner's bullets wouldn't stop him but they would sure as hell make him have a bad day.} You're not being punked, buddy. There's just a lot of shit out there that you don't know about. {I moved forward, cautiously, never taking my eyes off of the pale bastard. The fucker gave me a death stare that told me he knew exactly who I was. I knew two things in that instant: one, Jose was in trouble; and two, this lesser was not going back to the Omega. I couldn't let him. To report something like this would be a death warrant for Jose and his family. Good thing I was the right man for the job.} Things are about to get really freaky here. I won't blame you if you ditch on me. Just... whatever you do, don't take me to the hospital. Start dialing the saved numbers on my phone before you do that. {I didn't have time to explain in any more detail. The lesser took out a wicked looking length of chain and came at me full force. I ducked the first swing but the lesser was only getting me to move so that he could take a whack at my shoulder. I cursed loudly and slashed out with my dagger, leaving him with a nasty gash down his side. Too bad the hole in his neck was still causing him problems. Poor guy didn't stand a chance.}

Jose: (I know I was dealing out my crazy look. “Hospital hell, you are going straight to the psychiatrist. You have either slipped on your banana peel or all the liquor has seriously turned your brain into mush.” I was still trying to hold a conversation and kill this…. “What the fuck is that thing?” I emptied my gun and put in another clip. “Did that asshole just throw his weapon at me? I am done playing this mickey mouse game with this perp. I mean this is the shit you watch on Game of Thrones, next thing you know dragons are going to appear.” I gave Butch a side glance hoping he had no more tricks up his sleeve. I needed to cuff this guy and get him into a holding tank just to give me some time to get my shit together. My wife is not going to believe this night time conversation tonight. The Mrs just might want to have me committed. “I don’t ditch anyone.” I gave him a hard glare, hoping he was reading my mind right now. I saw the perp pull some chains out when I noticed the big ass knife that Butch was wielding in his hand. I was not prepared for what came next, and the black stuff that poured from the perp.)

Butch: {I cast a sidelong glance at Jose. This was really not going to go well. He wasn't prepared to think so far outside the box that the box didn't even exist anymore. There was no other way around the cluster at this point. I was done dancing. The cops were bound to come down the alley any minute now with all the sounds of gunfire. Jose was about to figure out why I hid from him for all this time. I got right up into the lesser's face. My good hand closed around his throat, having sheathed my dagger. I squeezed my thumb right into the bullet wound and met his gaze. He couldn't look away, not this close. I had him. He stopped moving altogether. The connection between us was something that I always hated but now I was using it to my advantage. I backed him up against the brick wall and opened my mouth. To Jose it might look like I was kissing the pale bastard but I never made contact. The long, drawn in breath felt like something close to drowning. Pulling in the sickening essence that would render this lesser obsolete. I couldn't stop. There was no half-assing this job. There was a small popping sound that told me I'd pulled all that there was from him. A spray of particles was all that was left and I instantly dropped to my knees, grabbing my stomach with a loud groan. I braced the ground and heaved up a heaping helping of black tar before falling over completely.} #BDBRW #TheCase Part: 3

[butchoneal]

Talking to Payne

Butch: {The situation with my brother was still bothering me. I knew that eventually he would pull out of it. I had faith, if nothing else. What I wasn’t sure about was whether or not he could do it on his own. I’d gone down there, I’d shown my support. At least what I could. At the end of the day, it would be his decision. There wasn’t a damn thing that anyone else could do that would snap him out of the mind fuck that he’d fallen into. I was familiar with those type of rabbit holes, I’d been down them a time or two myself. What I really worried about was how this would impact his relationship with V’s sister. I don’t consider myself any type of Cupid but I could see that those two were meant for each other. Anyone who cared to look could see it. Vishous saw it even if he didn’t want to admit it. The longer Manny licked his own wounds though… I shook my head and set down the Lag that I’d barely touched. It wasn’t going to be good. You can’t walk away from the love of your life and expect them to not be hurt in the process. It wasn’t what Manny wanted. I knew that much. He was just too stuck up in his own head to see the cluster that he was creating. I needed to find Payne. Maybe talking to her would… I don’t know. I had no clue, I was just going on instinct. I sure as hell wasn’t going to ask V where his sister was. My roommate would know that I was up to something and would put a stop to it most likely. So I went to the only other person that would be in the know. I went straight to the King for my answers.} @Payne_BDBRW

Payne: *After arriving at Manny’s former condo, I’ve been sitting on his couch just replaying the entire scene in my head between mine twin, Manny and I. I had since ignored the other numerous text messages from various family members since I left the manse. I have had enough emotional turmoil to last me a lifetime in those twenty four hours. My chest had felt raw and torn that I could barely breath much less find the effort to speak to anyone about what was going on.

As the light from the morning arrived, I had made my way to the his former bedroom to rest. Wondering if this was the incident that leads to me to move out of the manse after all. I had been contemplating it for some time, escaping being under V’s thumb but I had thought Manny would have been with me. Apparently not. That was two days ago. @Butch_BDBRW

Butch: {I really should have gone to Fritz first, I don't know what I was thinking. Wrath knows a lot of things but Fritz is the one with his pulse on the mansion. Hell, for that matter, I should have just gone to Fritz when I was looking for Manny in the first place. Saved myself a ton of hassle. Long story short, I got the deets. At the end of the day it doesn't really matter how you get there. I knew for a fact that she wasn't in the mansion though. Almost like the place gave her a serious case of the scratch. It wasn't for me judge, there's always more than one side to things. I was probably sticking my nose where it didn't belong, I'm sure that's what V would say. Oh well. I was going anyway. I showed up at the place I was directed to and gave it my patented cop knock.} @Payne_BDBRW

Payne: *I woke up suddenly when I hear a pounding at the door. Glancing at the clock on the night table, I see that night has once again fallen. Almosts 72 hours has past since he left. Apparently, not answering my phone or text messages in three days has warranted a tête-à-tête. FML. Slowly anger was replacing the pain the had been festering while I slept here in his former home. Very few people knew where I was and therefore only a handful of those would come see me. I really wasn’t in the mood to deal with my twin but I wasn’t expecting him either. So, I reached for the 9MM I left next to the clock and quickly got out of the bed, out into the living room … all the while leveling the gun at chest level as I made my way to the door.

His hard wood floors made no sounds as I crept up to the door and was able to view through the peep hole only to glimpse into the mug of someone I least expected. Manny’s half-brother, Butch. They had similar features, though I think Butch’s nose has had a few breaks … you could still see that they were related nonetheless. I rolled my eyes as I dropped my weapon to my side and opened the door all the while wondering why he was here. Had something happened to Vishous or Manny? @Butch_BDBRW

Butch: {I wondered if maybe Fritz had the wrong address for a minute. My hand was raised to knock again when the door finally opened. I cocked my head to the side and ran my gaze down the gun in Payne's hand.} Expecting some serious company? I'm not really dressed for a throw down. {Laughing and adjusting my cuff links. Course that didn't mean that I left without weapons. That was just stupid. Never know what you will run into.} I know you probably don't want to see me right now. Or ever for that matter, we don't do much talking I suppose. Not that I have anything against it, I think we just never really had the time. {I was rambling now. I looked down at my shoes and noticed a scuff on the shiny exterior. I picked the foot up and swiped it along the back of my pant leg.} Anyway... {Clearing my throat.} You think maybe I could come in? @Payne_BDBRW

Payne: *I tilted my head to the side as I listened to Butch … find his words. He fidgeted slightly as he adjusted his cuffs. Strange. It’s true, we never talked much, but with him training the new recruits and patrolling the city and me dealing with the “royal ass” and the “mother hen”, the arrival of Strife, the baby shower and all the while teaching self-defense classes at #SafePlace … our paths haven’t crossed much lately.

I gave a small head gesture in agreement as I opened the door the whole way and stood off to the side to allow him entry. As I was closing the door, I peered right and then left down the corridor … just in case. My twin was never one to take a back seat to anything and he and the Cop were glued at the hip … so it made me wonder what this was about. My heart sped rapidly, wondering if it something did happen to my brother as I slipped the glock on top of the side table next to the door.* What happened? Where’s V? @Butch_BDBRW

Butch: {I stepped past Payne and looked around the place with the practiced gaze of a detective. I couldn't help it really. Details filtered into my brain and I could pull them up later for review if I wanted to. That wasn't why I was here though. No one was under investigation. I found the closest place to lean and parked it.} V?... {The confusion had to be written all over my face. Took me a second to puzzle through because I had been stuck in my train of thought and Vishous didn't have a dang thing to do with it. My lips pursed and I nodded.} I could see why you would think I was here because of him. I honestly have no idea where V's at right now. He gets a touch psycho on this particular subject so I left before he dragged his ass out of bed. {Shaking my head.} I'm not here for your brother. I'm here because of mine. {I let that one hang for a minute, trying to judge if I would get a positive or negative reaction. I liked to think that I was pretty good at reading people but there was always a monkey wrench thrown into things when it involved love. She might very well throw me out on my ass right now if she was pissed enough. I couldn't blame her.} I went to see him… @Payne_BDBRW

Payne: *Once Butch seemed to say that mine twin was fine, I began to relax. I knew that on most days I was furious at him than not, but I just found him too. Around the same time Manny found me. A sharp pain radiated in my chest. Just as Butch’s last words registered in my mind, another searing ache penetrated the fog I found myself in these last few days.* Oh??

*I glanced away not really wanting to talk about his brother, Manny, and made my way towards the kitchen. Somehow the fridge and cupboards became stocked the following night with my favorites after my arrival. The handiwork of Fritz, no doubt. I pulled a bottle of Simply Orange and poured a glass for myself, I gestured toward Butch to see if he would like one as well.* @Butch_BDBRW

Butch: {I shook my head at the offered OJ, opting for something with a bit more kick. I came around the other side of the wet bar that I was leaning against and pulled out a bottle of Lag that I knew would be sitting there. This was all such a mess and I probably shouldn't even be here in the first place. I thought I had a goal in coming here but I wasn't so sure of it now. I poured myself a drink and took a swig before opening my mouth again.} He's pretty messed up, ya know? {Words were never my strong suit. My mouth twisted a few times, trying to spit out the right things to say.} He didn't run from you. He ran from himself. He just doesn't know it yet. {I took another drink and found the glass empty already. Odd. I poured myself another, figuring I must need it.} He needs help but it's not the kind that I can give. Sometimes you just see one thing too many and it drives you over the edge. There isn't a quick fix to something like that. This helps... {holding up the bottle of Lagavulin} ... numbs it all down a dull roar and makes it so that you just don't care anymore. He's surrounded by empty bottles down there. {And here I was taking another swig.} It's not what he needs. @Payne_BDBRW

Payne: Oh? *I offered once again. I didn’t have much to say on the matter. What could I say? I turned and took out some random fruit and went to the sink to wash them. I really wasn’t hungry … I just wanted my hands to be busy doing something rather than punching a wall. I really didn’t want to talk about this.

There really wasn’t anything to say. It happened. It’s over. Life moves on. I spent centuries, /CENTURIES/, held in living suspension as the world past me by. Alone with my own damn thoughts with no one to talk to besides the jailer who kept me in my cage. I didn’t talk about feelings.

I started cutting the oranges, smelling the citrus, feeling the stickiness from the rinds within my fingers. I waited for Butch to get to the point. What did he want me to do? I’m not the one that walked out. I’m not the one that left. I was the one who was abandoned. I studied my hand as I watch it tremble.* @Butch_BDBRW

Butch: {I wasn't an idiot. I could tell that this conversation wasn't really going to get me anywhere. I guess something in me just had to try. V was always calling me a boy scout. To help other people at all times. It was in their oath somewhere. Maybe V was right. And maybe I should just keep my nose on my own face. Still, I opened my mouth.} I went down there for a different reason entirely. I thought they'd come after him. {They really meaning V. We all knew that he was the one that handled the dirty work.} When I was a human. I tried to leave the world of everything vampire and they threatened to kill me. Drastic to keep a secret, but I understood. If a human has that kind of knowledge out there in the real world, it can be taken. {Especially things like the location of the mansion. I wasn't one to buckle under torture but it was true, I was taken.} He's not out of it, not out of the vampire world. That's not what he wants. He's coming back. He just needs to get his head screwed on straight. He still loves you. He's lost down there but I could tell he misses you like crazy. {I finished off my drink and got up to leave.} I'm sorry if I couldn't be of more help. I woulda brought him back if I he was ready. At the end of it all, doesn't matter why he's down there or how long. It's what you do with the mess and whether you want to fix it or not. {I walked toward the door hoping that she wouldn't throw a knife at my back.} @Payne_BDBRW

Payne: *Listening to Butch’s past experience had me gripping the handle of knife tightly as I thought about what he was saying. There were many reasons why we stayed hidden in the human world. They wouldn't be able to handle the fact that some of their legends were true.

But would Wrath really allow someone to dispatch of Manny? Wrath couldn't go out into the human world, not without George. Would he get one of the Brothers to do it? Rhage? Zsadist? V?! I stabbed the hilt of the knife into the cutting board.*

Over my dead body. /No one/ touches him. *I growled. My twin and I may not be talking but he knew what Manny meant to me. Regardless of the last few days.* @Butch_BDBRW

Butch: {My hand was on the doorknob when I heard the sudden exclamation, punctuated by a knife stab. I turned with an arched brow.} So you do still care? Maybe you should tell him that. {I went for the door once more.} And no, there won't be anyone touching him. That was what I was making sure of. He's fine if he comes back as he seems to plan. {I turned the handle and called out over my shoulder.} The rest I will leave up to you. @Payne_BDBRW

Payne: *I watched the knife vibrate against the cutting board as I heard the door close behind Butch. The tremor from the door against the frame added to the sounds but all I could hear was the thundering of my heart.

What was I supposed to do? I had no form of reference in regards to relationships. My mahmen, my twin … laughable. Then there was the Strife. My head hung low as I pondered exactly what Butch expected me to do. I may be over three hundred years old but felt like I was just a child wading submerged through the waters trying to stay afloat and breath. But my breath was short, my heart racing, my hands were trembling, I felt dizzy and I crumbled to the floor.*

#TalkingToPayne #PTSD #Part6 #RhuinedWarriors #BDB #BDBRW

[butchoneal]

The Case: Part Two

{There was a moment there when I thought that Jose wouldn’t lift a finger to help his old partner out. I was about to get frog marched back across the police line and that would be that. I would have to find another way down that alley to where a lesser was very much still alive and kicking. I sure as hell wasn’t going to let Jose run headlong into that cluster. It was a whole different world that the humble detective would not be prepared for. I guess I stunned him really. I mean come one, it wasn’t everyday that someone presumed dead turned up to shoot the shit with ya. I reached up and took the Sox cap off so that he could actually get a look. Admittedly I was a hell of a lot bigger than I was as a human. People might bulk up but they sure as hell didn’t grow a few inches when they were in their forties. ‘He’s with me…’ I heard Jose mumble. The other cops stopped to give him a look like he’d lost his mind, or maybe they just didn’t hear him right. They weren’t exactly in the leaving kind of mood until de la Cruz straightened up and said it again, louder this time. ‘Come on. You idiots know who Detective O’Neal is.’ He waved a hand at me and I winced internally. Yeah, this was quickly turning into a shit show. Vishous was going to have to scrub the lot of them so hard he would get a case of the scratch. At this point, I didn’t really have any other options. I wasn’t gifted with that ability or I would do it myself and save the trouble. I gave them the same charming smile that I shined at Jose. Maybe they would buy into some cock-and-bull story about me being undercover for the past few years. I wasn’t exactly looking like any kind of detective right now in my leathers. ‘So what the hell happened to you? Run off and join a biker gang?’ Yup, there it was. At least he has waited until the other cops were out of hearing. They were all still kind of scratching their heads. Some of them remembered who I was, and those were the ones that knew that I was under investigation before I disappeared. I looked down at my leathers and shrugged.} Hey, you gotta admit, I make this shit look good. {I laughed and scratched the back of my neck. He wasn’t going to let me get away with evading a question like that. I just couldn’t tell him. Even if I did…} You wouldn’t believe me if I told you, Jose… {Now I think I was just pissing him off. ‘I looked everywhere for you. You’ve been a missing person for so long… I’d given up hope. Until that one fucking phone call…’ I knew the one he was talking about. I tipped him off about a dead body in a dumpster. It wasn’t a case that I could take but he sure as hell could get to the bottom of it.} Where’s your new partner? {I knew that they wouldn’t let de la Cruz go too long without throwing someone with him. Probably several someones. It took awhile to mesh. Frankly, it pissed me off that he was out here by himself right now. ‘Veck will be here soon.’ He didn’t even seem bothered by the fact that his partner was seriously late. Hands grabbed my leather jacket and pushed me up against the wall. I either wasn’t paying attention or I just let it happen. Maybe it was both. His face was right up in my grill. ‘You have no idea what it was like! You were there one day and gone the next! I went to your apartment expecting to find a body… Kept wondering if the next scene that I was called to would be you…’ His voice broke with emotion. He was either going to punch me or hug me. I took the option away and grabbed my old partner’s shoulders. He wanted answers and I still couldn’t give them to him. Jose would never admit to crying but he was awfully still. Fuck it, I hugged the hell out of him. We’d been through alot together.} It’s okay man. I made a new life for myself. I’m finally happy, Jose. {He knew what that meant. If anyone knew, he knew. I was a walking corpse for years. And then I found where I really belonged.} #TheCase:PartTwo #BDBRW

[butchoneal]

The Case : Part One

{The night was relatively dead. Truth was, we weren’t turning up as many lesser as we use to. It was like the Omega had gone quiet all the sudden. I didn’t believe it for one minute. There was something terrible lurking in the shadows and I preferred if it didn’t jump out and bite some poor innocent in the ass. Of course that was usually how it went, no matter how hard I tried to stop it. We’d decided to split up to cover more ground. If one of us found something we would report it and the cavalry would come in running. I was lost somewhere up in my head. I worried about my brother, down in Florida, dealing with his PTSD. There was a whole batch of trainees to get straight. With one that was shacking up with his human girlfriend who was going to need a wipe soon.  What this really meant was that I wasn’t paying attention to where I was walking. Something that I should have avoided at all costs drew me in a moth to a flame. A crime scene. I should have turned and walked the other way as soon as I realized where I was headed. I hastily pulled the sox cap out of my back pocket and tugged it down like I’d seen Vishous do so many times. People knew me here. This was my old life. The reporters, the forensics team, the beat cops holding back the line. Everywhere I looked there was a familiar face. And of course at the heart of it all was Jose de la Cruz. It brought a smile to my face to see my old partner hard at work doing what he was good at. He always looked like he wasn’t paying much attention to the scene, standing there with his cheap coffee, listening to what the squints were telling him. It was all part of his method. He saw everything, cataloging it all in that mind of his. It had taken me awhile to warm to the guy at first. His wife was always cooking me food and inviting me over when all I really wanted to do was find the bottom of a bottle of Lagavulin. I was a mess and he always took care of me. I missed the guy but this was how it had to be. He couldn’t know that I was still around, even though he must suspect. I’d dropped an anonymous tip awhile back on the hotline. He wasn’t stupid. He knew what I sounded like. I turned to leave when the sickly sweet smell of death and baby powder hit my nose. Shit… This was what really drew me here. I looked at the scene with fresh eyes. Scanning it in the thorough method that was now ingrained in me. There… The oily residue was easy to see now that I was looking for it. Who was the victim? A vampire? I couldn’t tell from this distance. I watched as Jose picked up on the oily trail himself. He turned his back to the body and started walking down the alley. My sixth sense that told me where lesser were ticked off like a slow pulse. Sonofabitch! He’s not dead! Jose was headed into a nightmare that he might not wake from. In a flash I was ducking under the police line and jogging toward my former partner. A dumb move, in hindsight. Every cop on the scene converged on me like I was the one holding the football. At least it got Cruz to stop. My head was ducked low so he couldn’t tell who I was at first. He was right there with the ‘get the fuck out’ crowd. I lifted my head slowly and met the disbelieving gaze of my former partner. I flashed a grin that was careful enough not to reveal sharp canines.} Hey buddy. Wanna lend me a hand here? #TheCase:PartOne #BDBRW

[butchoneal]

#BackAwayFromTheHuman #BDBRW

#BDBRW

Butch: {So we had another new recruit. I looked over the paperwork wondering how this had even arrived at the mansion in the first place. As far as I knew we weren’t taking in any new trainees right now. Maybe that had changed. Maybe we were always taking them in if they wanted to come play with the big boys. My brows furrowed. He worked at ZeroSum. Right under our noses. I wondered if I’d seen him before. Probably. I would have to see when I stood nose to nose with him. Surely he knew about the trainee program the entire time though. What caused him to apply now? I guess that would just have to be something that I found out for myself. I was off tonight anyway so I might as well go see what was doing. I was probably a tad overdressed, in my newly tailored suit, but that was just how I did things. Of course I was also still packing. No way in hell I was going anywhere without weapons. That shit was ingrained in me. I told Fritz not to bother and that I would go get this one myself. I double checked the address and hopped in the Escalade. For some reason I expected this guy to live in a crappier part of town, something like my junky apartment when I was still a cop. Well. He wasn’t glymera but he also wasn’t down on his luck either. Interesting… Wonder if he knew that someone was coming to get him tonight. We would just have to find out. I pounded my fist on the door and straightened my cuff link while I waited to see what kind of male popped his head out.}

Dhark:

(It had been a few days since I sent in the application to the trainee program, obeying the words of the Scribe Virgin so I would not have another freaky encounter. But in the meantime, I had this devilish dish of a female with me in my apartment. This chick had stamina, being able to keep up with me and all. There was not a place in my apartment that hadn’t been graced by her beautiful naked body.  I had her in the shower; her full breasts pushed against the glass. One hand was digging into her hips as my other hand danced over the front of her sliding down her silky folds, rubbing her clit as my dick was buried deep in her core. The sounds we made, I am sure kept the neighbors horny as fuck, and I am convinced they’d be thanking me whenever we showed our faces to the outside world. I am not sure how I even heard the knock on the door, but none the less I did. It was more of a nagging bang, I tried to ignore it but they were relentless, and I could tell they were not going to leave anytime soon. I leaned into her ear growling out “stay put; it will only take a minute.” I had a mind to answer the door naked, asking where the fuck was the fire. Okay, I was going to ask where the 911 emergency was but I grabbed a towel and wrapped it low around my hips, water dripping and my cock still somewhat hard. I swung open the door preparing to bark out my angered response when some fucking GQ big ass male stood there. What the fuck kind of Wheaties was this dude eating. “Yea, can I help you,” I said shortly, hoping he was looking for the hooker that lived above me. I could send him there and get back to the female in my shower. )

Butch: {My brow arched so high I thought that it would blend right into my hairline.} You have got to be kidding me… {Even fresh from the shower I could smell the scent of sex on him. I wouldn’t have been able to as a human. I half wished that I was still one at this point. I did recognize the male but only in passing. Not like I had long convos with the bouncers at ZeroSum. Clearly no one passed along the fact that someone would be visiting him. That or he didn’t get the memo. The whole place smelled of sex so I was guessing the latter of the two.} You can either get your shit together or go back to your marathon session of getting your dick wet. {I stuck my hands in my pockets and leaned casually against the door frame.} I’ll give ya a hint though. One of those two isn’t going to help your training one damn bit.

Dhark:

( I know my jaw must have fallen to the floor, a fuckin brother here at my door. Why the fuck was I not notified. Well, here goes my first impression. “Well, yeah, I was not aware anyone was coming to get me. Come in if you’d like, I need to figure out how I am going to tell my company I am leaving.” I didn’t even check to see if he came in as I turned and made my way back to the bathroom. “I opened the shower door; the Steam carried the scent of her arousal hitting me square in the face my dick sprung to attention again. Fuck me; I’d be rubbing that one out once I settled wherever I was going to end up tonight. I didn’t want to wipe the mind of this female. A part of me wanted to see her again; her fucking blood was like gold on my tongue and what was between her legs… the taste… I shook my head to gather my senses, explained to Zo, that I had to leave but would be in touch as soon as I could. Packing a bag to leave with the big ass brother at my door, I left Zo the keys to my place so she would have a safe place to live. I didn’t want that worry laying heavy on my mind, leaving some cash to keep her I leaned down and kissed her before throwing the duffle over my shoulder and making my way back to the Brother. "Okay, what’s on the agenda? The SV has left me in the dark about all this.” I waited for direction from him as I walked towards him.)

Butch: {I stepped inside the condo and amused myself by poking around in his things while he was busy. I could hear him talking to someone but I couldn’t make out what was being said. That part didn’t really matter unless it became an issue later. I picked up his mail and shuffled through it while walking around the room. Mostly bills and junk mail, there really wasn’t anything to tell me about the person. The decor wasn’t saying much to me either, aside from the fact that it probably came with the place. I set the mail on the counter and poked my head in the fridge. Surprisingly it wasn’t entirely full of leftover take out. This guy had some level of cooking ability. I made my way back to the center of the living room before he actually came out again. He didn’t need to know that I was snooping. I was headed toward the door when the bomb hit. I stopped in my tracks and turned to look at the trainee like he had just grown another head. My mouth opened and then quickly closed when I remembered that we weren’t entirely alone. I opened the door and yanked him outside by the front of his shirt. My mouth didn’t open until the door was closed.} What the hell does the Scribe have to do with any of this?!

Dhark:

(I feel like this big ass brother just did a double take on my ass when what seemed like I could fly and the wind tousled my hair about and I looked down to see a handful of my shirt in this massive fucking hand. “Dude, is this how you greet all the new recruits?” I tried to fix my shirt and noticed I lost a button. That pissed me off, and the look of his duds I would say he could give me one of his shirts if that were my style, and It/Was/Not. We were nose to nose when he spoke about the Scribe. I gave a puzzled look. “You know, the Scribe Virgin. Duh, she didn’t give me any of the deets about all this.” I twirled my wrist, my hand making a circular motion in the air. “She just told me she had plans for me and I was to enter the training program, something about fulfilling destiny? Whatever the fuck that meant.” My mind went back to that night in the alley, that was some freaky deek shit that night, but it led to me needing to release a little something which in return brought that little filly back in my condo, shit, she made me hard as fuck just thinking about her. I sure as hell hope she is going to be ok. “So, is this like a prison? Do we get to come and go? When can I come back to my pad?” I snapped my fingers in his face which kinda looked as if he was constipated, or maybe just deep in thought, Nah we will go with constipation. “Hey man” waving my hand in front of him. “Talk to me, are you the one with all the answers or do I need to find another in charge?” Maybe I should speak slower so he would answer me.)

Butch: {I swatted the hand in front of my face, almost smacking the look off the other guy’s face in the process.} I know who the Scribe Virgin is, asshole. {I wanted to shake him to see if something tumbled out that would tell me what the hell was going on here.} She doesn’t exactly pay neighborly visits to random dumbasses. That’s what has me wondering what’s doing. {I narrowed my gaze and shifted my head from one side to the other, giving him a closer look.} Who the hell are you? {Vishous would know. That’s who I needed to ask. Right now what I needed to do was bring the guy in. Exactly what I came here to do in the first frickin place. I let him go and took a step back, running my fingers through my hair.} Alright. Let’s go. {I turned with a furrow still in my brow and headed toward the Escalade.} You aren’t under lock and key. No one is forcing you to be a trainee. Well… I don’t know… Maybe the Scribe kinda is… {I called back over my shoulder to him.} That’s fucked up man. Just saying. When words like ‘Destiny’ come from her mouth… {Shaking my head. I definitely had to talk to Vishous. Maybe he had one of his visions that he didn’t tell me about. Fucker needs to keep a dream journal is what he needs to do. I got in the SUV and waited for the other person to get situated before my mouth started running with the stuff that was tumbling through my head.} Who are your parents? Where do you come from?

Dhark:

( I looked in pure horror and then some when what I was thinking spilled out of my mouth. “Damn, these brothers are sensitive.” I quickly looked around acting as if I lost something trying to divert that I actually spoke those words out loud. What a fucking dipshit thing to do. “Well… I saw her one night after my shift at Zero Sum, so, I guess that means I am not a random dumbass.” I knew I should keep my mouth shut, I wasn’t making any friends this way, but fuck, how was I to know any of this shit. I kinda thought she might be a myth. I should be asking who the hell he was, damn, big ass fucker messing my shirt up and I believe he just called me a dumbass. “It is good to know we are not under lock and key, I left my female in my condo, and she is sorta lost at the moment. My parents?” I scratched at my beard; I was adopted, wonder if he meant the ones who raised me? “My parents are dead; they were killed in the lesser raids.” That was the only information I was going to give him right now; I was not entirely sure who my birth parents were. Maybe I needed another meeting with the Scribe, but that freaky ass glow about her was enough to scare the hair off a wookie. I was just going to keep a low profile, and hope for the best, pass the trainee program, maybe be a brother and get my female.)

Butch: {I glanced up at Dhark’s place before pulling away.} You know… {I wasn’t sure if he was ready for this part but it had to be tackled sooner rather than later.} You are going to have to walk away from her. She’s a human. {If my nose was telling me right, which I knew it was.} You will have to wipe her. She can’t know anything about us. {Of course I was being a hypocrite because I had been a human among vampires for a long time. The only thing that saved me? Vishous had a vision of me. That was all he needed to say and the rest of the Brotherhood shut the hell up about dragging along a human in the mix. I doubted that Dhark’s female was going to have the same luxury. Though who knew, with the Scribe visiting this guy, I had no clue what was up. Parents killed in the raids. I filed that bit of info away for later when I had a talk with Vishous. He still wasn’t telling me who they were.} Obviously, you’re not a random dumbass. That was my point. Though I’m willing to reevaluate that based on your flapping mouth. {I cranked on the music and tore out of there like a man on a mission.}

Dhark:

(I gave him a long hard look, I wasn’t wiping shit from her mind, he can kiss my fucking ass, and once again my mumbles spilled from my lips. “Like hell, I will.” What the fuck was he, Clifford the big red dog? My anger was starting to boil over as he even spoke of her, not even saying her name I was ready to throw down with him. I would have to do my check-ins and keep my nose clean, so I could get back and check on her, I might have to hide her out somewhere else. I would have to feel this out soon. I didn’t trust this little information with him. All I knew he might want her himself. I felt a possessive growl build in my chest as he cranked up his jams. Fuck, he liked that old school shit, I needed some hard rock to get my blood going. I bet he took some form of Geritol as well, and what the fuck was up with his nose, somebody beat the hell out of him? I thought Vampires healed better than that. I side-eyed my condo one last time before sitting back trying to make it through this ride. I had to say this vehicle was tight. They sure traveled in style; I might have to get me one of these. Leaning my head back I had to come up with a plan to keep my female safe and away from the likes of him, I think he would wipe her mind without my knowledge. My work was cut out for me now; I wish I knew what the Scribe had up her sleeve, it would sure be beneficial to me now.)

Butch: {My brow arched upward.} They all think that, you know? Every last one of them fights it. {I couldn’t blame him really.} Personally, I think it’s a shitty rule too. Probably would have left me brain dead if they went through with it. {I pursed my lips, thinking back on how things went down with me. And also with Rhage, and Vishous, and my brother. And, and, and…} It never turns out well no matter what way you cut it. {I stopped at a red light and looked over at my passenger.} You can stop growling at me right fuckin now. I’m telling you the way things are. Consider it a frickin favor. That way you don’t get blind sided when my roommate comes and wipes her himself.

Dhark:

(I just looked straight ahead as the jibberish flew from his lips. I didn’t care what everyone else thought, I’d go down fighting to the death if anyone laid a finger on her. “Death will come to anyone who dares to erase her.” Maybe this trainee program wasn’t for me. I would have to decide that soon. I tried to fight back the anger as my lips curled back, and my fangs elongated. Closing my eyes, I tried to steady the pounding of my heart, and my breathing became somewhat labored. Spitting out my words carefully, I spoke in a monotone voice. “I will quit growling when you stop talking nonsense to me. I didn’t ask for this; it was kind of forced upon me.” I ran my fingers through my disheveled hair, letting out the air that I didn’t even realize I was holding. I just needed to get through whatever initiation I had to go through and make it back to my condo.)

#BackAwayFromTheHuman

[butchoneal]

Where The Hell Is My Brother?

Butch: {I’d been so wrapped up in getting things arranged at the warehouse that I was out of touch with everything else around me. Nothing made that more clear than learning the fact that my own brother was MIA. I went to the PT room to ask him a question about the ‘non lethal’ bullets that I’d be using on the trainees only to find that he’d been gone for days now.} What the hell?! Seriously?! And no one thinks to tell me this shit? {I felt like the worst brother ever. And I probably was. But hey, give me a break, this was still new to me. I hadn’t really talked with any of my siblings in so long I was sure they assumed I was dead in a ditch by now. So yeah, I was a terrible brother. Well that shit needed to stop right now. Why hadn’t anyone gone after him? I tried finding Payne and came up with nothing on that end either. What the fuck? People are just abandoning ship left and right and here I am sitting here holding my dick like a douchebag. Well that kind of thing just wasn’t in me. I never just sat back and let things happen if I felt that I could do something about it. Manny was so happy… well… up until recently… Shit! I cursed some more under my breath. All of the signs were there. I just hadn’t paid attention. Okay. So. That one got fucked up. Let’s stop beating yourself up and figure out a way to fix this mess. First thing was first, I had to find the fucker. I started at all the usuals. His place, the hospital, the stables, race track, a number of bars. Yeah, nothing. I started to get a bad feeling about this. I didn’t like where my head was going. It was like deja vu. I could clearly see the moment when I was ready to walk out the door of the manse and never come back. V stopped me. He stopped me so that he wouldn’t have to kill me. SHIT! I raced through the Pit and dove on V’s four toys. Yeah, I know, I wasn’t supposed to use them. Fuck that noise. This was important! I quickly found Manny’s credit card info and tracked him all the way down the East coast. Double shit! He went to his mom’s. Clear the hell away from Caldwell. This was bad! Really bad! I looked up my rotation schedule and calculated how long it would take me to get to Florida and back. This no daylight thing was seriously going to fuck me over. If I drove, it was going to take me three nights just to get down there! Natch. I could take the red eye and be there in under three. I think we have a winner! I made doubly sure that my rotation was covered for the next couple of nights and booked the flight. This was something that couldn’t wait. And I couldn’t tell anyone about it because then they might give me the gruesome task and I was NOT going to do that. I even went to the lengths of avoiding Vishous at this point. I didn’t want him to pick something out of my brain and I was sure I was broadcasting like an m’fer. My leg had developed a permanent twitch, that had my foot tapping out a pattern the entire way to Florida. He must not know. That was the only thing I could think of. Manny didn’t know that humans weren’t allowed to leave once they were brought in on all the secrets. I probably broke every speed limit created in a rush to get my rental car to his mom’s house. At least I wasn’t caught because I couldn’t do that neat little mind trick thing. My gaze ran over the property with a kind of training that was ingrained in me. I took in all manner of details before raising my hand and giving the door a patented cop knock. Hopefully he was here.}

Manny: -I've been sitting and staring at the same glass of watered down Lag, for the past three hours. This little escape of mine was suppose to provide insight, and cure me of my fucking issues; that's a big fuck you very much on that. No insight or cure came to me in the days I've been away from @Payne_BDBRW and the Brotherhood, instead things were getting worst each day … no each hour away from Payne. So much worst that I spent night and day in the warm welcoming embrace of a bottle of Lag, so I wouldn't have to go asleep and experience the night terrors that haunted me.

A loud knock sounded through the condo, I checked the clock on the wall it was getting a little late; my mother had left for bingo an hour ago. She'd be gone for a while, anyone seeking her would know her routines; I pushed myself off the overstuffed couch and wearily check through the peephole. The curse that left me must have been heard upon the other side of the door, because I saw my half brother’s face as his bulky frame boxed the door frame. Opening the door I step aside letting him in, not like I had much choice in the matter; if I had ignored him he would have found a way in one way or another.-

“ I thought I made myself perfectly fucking clear to @Vishous_BDBRW, when I told him to go fuck himself and walked out of that mansion…

So tell me why are you here? On his behalf or on your own little mission to save my fucking soul?”

Butch: {I came into the room and swept my gaze left to right in a quick assessment of the place. Would there be someone here already? I tried to think of which other Brother had the night off. My mind was racing a mile a minute through all of the worst case scenarios. I was over exaggerating things. I knew it. It was better to be ready for the shit to hit the fan rather than forget your umbrella. I whipped back around when the words coming out of Manny's mouth finally registered in my brain. My face wrinkled and I tilted my head, like a new perspective might help me understand the words better.} You told V to go fuck himself? And why was that? Cause I seem to be a little foggy here. {I went to the back window and peeked out into the dark night before coming back to my brother.} You visiting your mom? Or are you running, Manny? There is a big fucking difference in the two. And from what it sounds, seems to be more the later. {I made my way to another window and looked out it. I itched for my weapons but it was damn hard to get those to pass through an airport.} Your soul is what it is, Manny. I'm no priest. {This time I spoke more out into the night instead of turning back around.} I ever tell you what happened to me when I decided that I was a fucking worthless waste of space at the manse and tried to leave?

Manny:

-Barking out a laugh, when asked why I'd told Vishous to go fuck himself; I always told him to do so. Problem was this time I meant it, I was just a case of Humpty Dumpties; and the brotherhood were all the king's men, if I had stayed they would have tried fruitlessly to put me back together again. Lord knows they're stone cold killing machines, with loads of that ooey gooey toll house cookie dough inside of them; the poor bastards had good hearts every last one of them.

It was the second real reason I left Payne being the first reason, I couldn't allow any of them to waste their time trying to fix me; not when there was a war to fight on two fronts and shellans and kids to take care of. Butch might have the biggest heart of all of them, part of me was happy he was here the rest of me hated him for it; the last thing the stubborn bastard needed was another Janie like issue in his life. -

“You mean aside from my usual reasons? The bastard wanted to play doctor with me. “

-picking up my watered down lag, I toss its contents in the sink and poured another glass; handing it to Butch I take the bottle and return to the couch, resuming my lost cause kill me now pose.-

“ No you haven't told me that tale. The facts are simple with me Butch, I'm a broken egg and the brotherhood are the fools that would waste time trying to put me back together; cause none of them knuckle heads have read humpty fucking dumpty. They have better things to do then trying to fix me, they face war with not one but two enemies; they're burning the candle on both ends as it is now. I need to fix my shit brother, I can't depend on the brotherhood to do it.”

Butch: {Something about his statement struck me as odd. Vishous playing doctor with him? I turned from the window to watch Manny moving around the room. I read body language like few others could. Years of watching people I guess. Thing was, this time, I could relate. It was all eerily familiar. I pursed my lips and moved closer, taking up a spot in an easy chair. Things seemed to be safe here for now, I could take a load off for a little while.} Not everyone gets Vishous. {I took the offered drink with a slight raise of the glass in salute.} Thanks. {I settled back in and nursed the Lag.} Thing is. He doesn't open his mouth like that unless it's important. He's not what you call a people person. He'd rather stay up in his head then spew anything close to an emotion that isn't anger. So... {I let that hang there for a minute to take another sip.} The fact that he said anything to you that didn't involve 'fuck' and 'you' flat out amazes me. Considering your history and all. {I shrugged like it didn't matter anyway. I scratched a thumb nail down the side of my face as I mulled over this whole thing. It was a cluster right now but that didn't mean that it would stay that way.} You have that all backwards but I do see where you are coming from. Thing about the Brotherhood that I had to learn is that they really are just like a big family. They want to see you succeed and they care about you. Here's the thing though, they aren't trying to fix you. They are just... there. Always there. They've all gone through their own shitfests. Trust me. All of them. Through it all they come out the other side and grow stronger. You're a part of that now whether you want to believe it or not. {I took another, longer drink before starting in again.} I got dragged into the mess as a human. I thought that I'd finally found some kind of great purpose in my life. Here I was, a cop who always watched criminals going free just because some lawyer found a loophole or some dumbass dropped the ball in the chain of evidence. It was maddening to spend all that time catching them only to have to turn them free the next day. What vampires are fighting though, now that shit is legit. Instant punishment. No fuzzy gray area. Good fighting evil to make other's lives better. It was like a wet dream. I wanted in on that action. But I was only a human. 'Can't take Butch. He might get hurt. Those Lesser will mess him up. No, he has to stay home for his own safety.' I've never ridden a desk in my life and I sure as hell wasn't about to start. So I said fuck it. They didn't want me out there and I couldn't stay put. It wasn't in me. I packed my things and headed straight for that door. Vishous stopped me. {I finished the drags left in the bottom of the glass and rested it on my knee.} See, the thing is, I'd been with them for so long at this point that they couldn't just scrub my mind. There was no mind wipe out there that was going to leave me free and clear. I knew too much. Was already committed without even knowing it. I couldn't simply walk away. V would have had to kill me. I told him to do it. I couldn't live like that, kept up in the big house without a purpose. It would have killed Vishous but he would have done it. He asked me to wait. Said he was looking into another option. And that's how I became a vampire. {I looked up from the glass that I'd been spinning to see if my brother really understood why I was so freaked out right now.}

Manny:

-The wheels in my mind started working overtime as I listened to butch’s story, I started working on plans to fix my mental state of mind; part of me picking up on the concerned note in his voice as he mentioned him trying to leave. It truly did sound like Butch was worried they send someone after me, all because I knew too much and was a human whom left their ranks.

I needed to find the right words to put his mind at ease, he needed to know Wrath had decreed I was allowed to come and go as I pleased. How do you tell someone you're safe, and their trip was kind of pointless but you appreciated it nonetheless; without sounding like a complete asshat?-

“ Butch you need to understand something, yes our stories are similar as we both have come into the fold of the brotherhood as humans; but it kind of ends there. I have permission to come and go as I please, especially where my mother may be concerned; and partly because with Jane being officially dead I'm the only one with the resource to get all the medical gear and tech for the brotherhood without any eyebrows being lifted.

I left not because I felt like a cat in a dog kennel, but because my mental stability is putting every life in that manse at risk; every time I hold a knife to one of you brothers or the shellans. I risked not only Beth’s life, but that of her child’s life when I delivered the heir. All because I knew mentally I was unfit to continue medical work; my pride got in the way and it didn't stop at Beth and her young.

I went on to do a surgery upon calli, because I made it through all these surgeries without incident I figured I could continue to quietly fight my demons; then last week I was making love to my mate…. The fiery passions that consumed her and I was enough, to crack the cage of those demons and let them out into the open. In plain sight of Payne and Vishous….

My life like yours had held little meaning to it, without the ability to do what I was bred to do. I took off in an attempt to fix me, so I could fix others. To do that I had to leave all those I loved behind me, my mind is a ticking time bomb; having been a cop I have no doubt you've seen your share of PTSD… It doesn't mix well in our professions, since we hold lives in our hands on a daily basis.” -Taking a swig from the bottle, I scrub my free hand over my face; my frustration and tiredness leeching all the fight I had in me out. I looked back up at Butch, trying to grasp at what was going through his mind now.-

Butch: So you do plan on coming back? {I felt like I could breathe a little easier. Hell, I even relaxed more in the chair that I was sitting. I set the empty glass down and scrubbed both of my hands over my face. Was this still a cluster? Well, yes. But there was a light at the end of the tunnel. The tunnel might be a long one but that was just the way of things like this.} Cause I have to admit, bro, this looked like running to me and I'm sure the thought has crossed other's minds. {Not to mention Payne. Shit. I wondered how she was taking all of this. I know I would be going ballistic.} Wrath isn't an unreasonable guy. It's not like I was locked down 24/7 in the manse either. Leaving for good is a whole other ball of wax though. They take that shit seriously. You might think I'm stupid for flying my ass all the way down here but I'll be dipped in shit if I watch you get killed when all you need is time. By the way, serious TMI on the 'fiery passion' there. And you kinda make it sound like V was watching it go down. Which is just ten kinds of fucked up. {I barked out a shuddered laugh before going quiet. I stared out across the room, seeing the ghosts of my past parading in front of me as he talked about his PTSD.} We aren't as different as you think we are. I've had my fair share of things that haunt me every damn day. {Entirely too many dead bodies. Victims that had only me to find justice for what was done to them. Like a thousand voiceless screams as they stared up at me with glassy eyes. Violent, senseless murders. The ones that hit the worst were the cases that I never solved. They came back to shout in my head on the regular. 'Look at what was done to me! How could you let them get away with this?!' I cleared my throat and brought my eyes back into focus.} One foot in front of the other. {I shrugged it off, leaning forward with my empty glass held out.} How bout a refill? {I flashed half a grin.} Humor your brother and share a few drinks with me before I have to go back. I hope you got more than that bottle or I'm going to have to make a run.

Manny:

-Butch’s presence here was making it increasingly harder to say no, to coming back to the mansion with him; without a doubt I was missing Payne like crazy. Hell if my resolve to stay wasn't wavering hard, like an addict going through mad withdrawals of their addictions.

Part of me wanted to say no, and stick to my guns;but an even bigger part said to go to your woman. It was hard to tell which part I would side with at the current moment, maybe butch was right another bottle of lag could only add more clarity to the situation at hand right? Yeah wishful thinking and everything in me knew it.

Walking over to the corner bar of my mothers den, I look for another bottle; the night was growing later and later. Butch wouldn't be catching any flights tonight so that meant, a run was indeed in need. I toss him the keys to my Porsche with a small smile.-

“ looks like you may be staying the night, if that's the case we do need another run. Unfortunately you are more sober than I, so you're driving us. My Porsche will be quicker than any rental you'd get from the airport.”

-Pointing over my shoulder to a spot next to a ficus to the left of where I had been sitting, three swooning empties of lag stood sloppily at attention for his inspection.-

Butch: I kinda figured I'd be here at least one night. Not like I was going to club you over the head and drag you back or anything. {My brow rose at the mention of driving the Porsche. I tilted to the side to take a look at all the lone soldiers kicking it by the plant. It reminded me of what I use to do every night after work when I was human. No judgement here. I'd lost myself in drink too many times to count.} I know you must be fucked up if you are letting me drive that car. No worries though, I'm an excellent driver. I know how to take down a fleeing suspect with one solid ram. {My fist made impact with the palm of my other hand. A wicked grin took over my face. I jingled the keys with brows wagging.} I'll take reeeeeaaaalll good care of her. {Jumping up out of the comfortable chair I was lounging in.} Better get a move on before all the good places close. {A few bags of burgers seemed in order as well. It was never good to get that plastered on an empty stomach. He was still human after all.} I'll be back in a few. You just chill and be glad that you are throwing up in your car. Maybe I'll even get to meet your mama.

#BDBRW

[butchoneal]

Cop And His Big Ideas

Butch: {I leaned over the blueprints that were spread out over the table in the Pit. Well, they weren’t really blueprints. More like something that I whipped together based on extensive reconnaissance. They were actually more detailed than blueprints because they included things like broken walkways and clutter. I reached over to grab a chip covered in cheese from a plate off to the side. A fat glob of nacho cheese landed on the blueprint before the chip made it to my mouth. The chip got crammed in my mouth whole as I raced to save the important data from its cheesy demise. My thumb did a piss poor job but I couldn’t worry about that now because the chip was wedged sideways in me esophagus. I choked, sputtered, and stumbled backward grabbing my throat. This is it. This is how I go out. Not by a lesser, oh no. By a chip that slices up my throat on the way down. I fell back on the couch alternating between gasping for air and trying to smash my own throat in the hopes of breaking up the chip. My other hand flails madly before it lands on a discarded beer bottle. Luckily it had a little left at the bottom. I upended the thing with a ragged gasp, still choking some but at least able to breathe now.}

Vishous: *In my bedroom at the Pit, I am putting away some of the daggers I have freshly made, into the safe, located inside of my closet. I have been spending some extra time in my forge. Two reasons behind that. The first one is that I needed some sort of outlet with all of the shit hitting the Compound lately. Between the cluster fuck with @Bounty_BDBRW being shot by #Xcor, and the lessers having a major hit on glymera owned property, plus @Tehrror_BDBRW giving us all a heart attack, channeling Darius during his induction..shit. We all need a vacation. Wars  don’t lend themselves to much time off, though. The second reason being that the trainees needed some more spare daggers to work with. I just locked the safe when I hear a loud ruckus coming from the small kitchen. Granted, by itself, that is not a cause for alarm, but something about this noise means something serious is going on.  I curse, shaking my head as I round the corner, see Cop, flailing like a fish out of water, and clawing at his throat.* Cop! For Scribe’s sake, didn’t someone teach you how to chew and swallow? *shakes my head as I come around  behind him, and wrap my arms around his huge body* Did you gain weight? Or you hitting the Lag extra hard? *I get a good grip and press hard, quick successions, into his abdominal cavity, in a perfect Heimlich Maneuver, growling, starting to sweat a little* Spit it out, already! *noticing the blue prints on the table, and the cheese drop that has spoiled them* I told you not to work in the kitchen. This is why you can not play with my Four Toys. What the fuck is this?

Butch: {A sloppy clump of barely chewed nacho chip forced its way up my throat thanks to the not so tender ministrations of my room mate. My face turned a shade of red that it was never intended to be, heading straight for blue before the offending food landed smack dab on the blueprints. Normally I would have taken the time to regain my breath and maybe pretend to pull myself together. Right now the plans, that I'd been working so hard at, were at the forefront of my mind. I scrambled out of V's hold to scrape the disgusting projectile from the paper. There may have been cursing involved as well but it would be hard to distinguish what was actually being said while also gasping for air. Rampant flailing aside, I still managed to carefully remove the nasty before it did too much damage. Then I immediately dropped to my knees on the floor and actually focused on taking in the necessary oxygen. I waved to Vishous to give me a minute. I'd answer his questions, hell I wanted him involved, just not while I was busy dying. I blindly fumbled around for the paper towel that I knew was on top of the table, my hand slapping along until I got it. I wasn't going to sit here with a piece of partially digested food in my hand all night long. Once I finally managed to clean myself up I felt that I could actually talk. I got up off the floor and tossed the paper towel in the garbage. After some more coughing, and a huge glass of water, I came back to the blueprints on the table. A stupid grin took over my face. Oh yeah, this was going to be good.} First off, thanks for the save. {giving him a mock salute} Secondly... {chuckling} This is here is the layout of a shitty warehouse located in Crack Central. This particular warehouse is one that I have now acquired. Well... you acquired. WE acquired. Mazel tov!

Vishous: *watching Cop recover, I raise one eyebrow and I grab a chip out of the open bag, and eat it. I raise my eyebrow as Cop motions me to wait, and I decide to take another chip and have some dip with it. What the hell is Cop up to? I gaze at the blueprint, trying to figure out if it is someplace I have been. I am running through locations in my mind when Butch finally gains back his ability to speak. Of course, this is a curse, and a blessing,  with Cop. It has been, since he showed up on our doorstep. I almost choke on my own chip, as I hear his words* A gift? In Crack Central? *gives a sly smile* Damn, Cop! The possibilities! *momentarily struck speechless and I laugh* We still ain’t dating, true? We could use that to torture the trainees in, more combat, explosives, daggers. Remember the first day we created for the trainees? This could be so much better..*making mental notes of my ideas as I look over everything* Fuck..so many great ideas. What did you plan on doing with it? We need to celebrate! *goes off to get us some Goose and Lag* We could put in a huge tv, the best sound bars and surround sound, I could have it ready by the time the first Sox game airs this season..bigger than what we have in here…

Butch: {My eyes lit up listening to V. There was a reason we worked so well together. Our thoughts went to the same places when it came to a lot of things.} See?! I knew you would understand! It's frickin perfect! The neighbors aren't going to say shit about any sounds coming from it, aaannnndd there is a very real possibility that lesser could actually show up! {I excitedly went back over to the blueprints, pointing with my finger.} It's even got some platforms with walkways overlooking the bottom. {I snagged up the bottle of Lag and took a swig straight from it before continuing on.} So here's my thoughts. They will be looking high. So I say we stay low, in among all the boxes and clutter that is still there. {I motioned to all the debris that were visible on my improved map of the place.} We leave someone like Tohr up high so he can take pot shots at them from various locations and make them think that there are a million of us up there. At the very back, and probably up on the second level, we put a hostage. I'm thinking we put Lassy in a dress and make him squeal. And after we are done with that we set it up for the new season! {Holds up my hand for a fistbump.}

Vishous: *fists bumps back, glowing,literally,  with excitement and enthusiasm at our diabolical ideas for the trainees.* Yes! I also want to get the best sound system in here, that I can fuck with and some mirrors. I want to put some surprises in some of those boxes. We don’t want to kill them..but..let’s just say we are providing “learning opportunities” *laughing* you are twisted wanting to use @Lassiter_BDBRW. He’s been torturing me for centuries, and sharing is caring, I approve. *excitedly walks over to my Four Toys and boots them up* I have a few websites saved. Bring the map over here! *pulls up the first site* I’ll use my Black Amex, since you purchased the building. Let;s buy some shit! Check this out..Bose Virtually Invisible Speakers...we need some of those, and perhaps Klipsh RP180 home theater system might be handy.  For some good mobility we need some of these Fender Audio Passport speakers...I’ve been eyeing these for while! *clicks add all to cart* We need some explosives, now..shit..we need Hollywood and Z in here..Tohr could probably help pick out some handy ammo that will make the impact we are looking for. This is going to be a party, the gift that keeps on giving! I knew there was a reason we kept you around...shit..we need to hire some contracters, too. I want to tweak the flooring..

Butch: You wire that place up and when the season starts it will be like we are at Fenway! {eyes alight} But with comfier seats! {Picturing a couple of nice, cushy Lazyboys with a full spread of snacks and alcohol. Lowering my voice to a whisper.} We could even say we were actually out patrolling... You know... for when they make us go out on game night! Of all the stupid things! {I take another swig of my Lag before snagging up the blueprints and bringing them over to V's computers.} I love this Jack-in-the-box idea. Could even leave holes for sneaky shooting. I'm thinking of some of those pellet rounds that hurt like a sonofabitch but don't do any lasting damage unless you take one to the mush. {Watching the things that V adds to his cart and then stopping to point at the screen.} That too. We need cameras. Inside and out. Oh! And strobe lights. Hell, even a fog machine wouldn't be bad. Would hide the actual smoke grenades that fuck with your breathing. {Pulling up a chair to sit down next to Vishous. My head turns to him with a kind of awe.} What do you want to do to the floor? I'm kinda scared and already loving it.

Vishous: *I forget what we are doing for a moment, when I hear you mention the word Fenway, and my mind floats away several months from now, when baseball starts back up again.* Damn good idea! This is close to a lot of action, it won’t take us much time at all to dematerialize here, hell..we could get a patrol in, during the 7th inning stretch! Lessers and baseball. Damn, Cop. We are lucky bastards! *I resume focusing, I open up a doc on my computer and listing out some things that we still need as Cop mentions them* Fuck. Sneaky shooting is what we deal with 24/7, they gotta get used to it, feel me? Now, for the floor. *grins evilly* Well. For one, I want it to move. Both  retractable and also up and down. Various sub floors beneath. A hidden pool. *grins wide* A shit ton of stuff to keep them on their feet. Ok. Maybe a bit for my amusement, too. *shrugs* Hey. Gotta get payback on these newbies somehow, for the hours of time we put into training them, true? Stobe lights..*debates* I wonder if we need to put some kind of clause like “strobe lights will be in use” or should it just be a surprise? *reaches for my container of tobacco, and I go to click on a website that sells a wide variety of wholesale lights*

Butch: {Smacks V on the shoulder.} Seriously, you insensitive bastard? You forget that I can't zip around like Mary Frickin Poppins? Here I'm thinking it's a shorter drive and you're worried about the distance your molecules will be flying?! Damn. That cuts, bro. {Rubbing the center of my chest like I just got wounded.} I'm going to try to forget your lapse of judgement there and focus on how frickin wicked this place is going to be. {My head tilted to the side as he described what he wanted to do with the floors. I was picturing it all and I knew what a cluster of a sitch it would make for anyone walking around on them. My brow started furrowing when I actually went to think about the grand scope of what he was talking about though.} I think maybe you are getting a little too big for your britches there. Let's think about this seriously here. What you are talking about is something that is going to take a fucking long time to construct. With that kind of traffic going in and out of that building, all the sudden it loses its charming 'shit hole' quality that might possibly draw stupid frickin lesser to our doorstep. Plus... And this is the major one... All that crap won't be done before the beginning of the new season. We will have to postpone our lazy baseball watching in favor of sending snot nosed trainees through hell on earth. This seriously puts a twist in my boxers.

Vishous: *raises my eyebrow and chuckles, shakes my head as Butch hits me on the shoulder* Hey. At least we upgraded you to vampire status, true? Will you really be butt hurt if you drive, and I dematerialize? Fiiine. *rolls eyes dramatically and elbows you back* Of course we’ll drive. I won’t leave you hanging. *grumbles as I grudgingly admit that you are right, but I would never, in the depths of my 6 chambered heart,  admit it, outloud* Fun killer. But..*curses* Ok. Damn it. You are right. I don’t want you to get a twist in your boxers. You should try going commando. *shrugs* All valid points. I would love to see the kids shit themselves if lessers did arrive on our doorstep. *grins, coldly* They might very well be drawn out this way. You picked it well. Exactly the right sort of traffic, nothing that would discourage them. Shit..we could probably bait a trap for them..*my mind races a million miles a minute, analyzing, about to go off in yet another direction but I snap myself out of it, chuckling to myself, as I regain my focus. I know the faster we get everything in place, the sooner we’ll be able to have some play time with the trainees* The pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in just a few weeks. Let’s set up some interviews with contracters..we probably should tell @Wrath_BDBRW we are spending some money..oh yeah..and the other Brothers…*pulls up my database of civilian contractors, ready to spend some time, scheming with @Butch_BDBRW. We only have an hour before we have to go teach a class*   #CopAndHisBigIdeas #BDBRW