47th Trial
Season of Vhalar
Arc 720
Continuation of Family Matters
Location: Earth Quarter
Season of Vhalar
Arc 720
Continuation of Family Matters
Location: Earth Quarter
One. Two. Three. Four...
Joey waited, eyes focused down on his pocket watch as he smoked in the same alleyway he always took on the way home. This time, however, he waited. He had for Trials, waiting for a few hours each time, patiently smoking and thinking. Thus far, despite the threat, Joey had avoided being assaulted at any time by Argus' men. It likely meant that his wife had said nothing of her betrayal, or Joey arriving at their home with the intent to harm his family. If they had he'd have found himself a dead man by now. No, they knew what was smart, perhaps even hated Argus himself. Now he had an anchor. People inside Argus's life that he would trust to never betray him, yet that worked for Joey and would give him the information he needed. Now he knew the man's business, a small jeweler's downtown that earned him a large sum of money. He knew his schedule, his patterns - knew some of his business partners by name. One night had taught him all he needed.
Yet doing it alone was still a risk. Argus' had thugs, brutes and other paid bodyguards to protect him. Joey wasn't a one-man army, nor would he ever truly be one. But that wasn't his goal. Fighting his own battles was a job for a soldier or a mercenary. Once he had begun his rise to power Joey would have his own men that worked for him, those that would fight his battles for him. Until then, however, he would need an alternative. Argus seemed the kind to make many enemies, brutishly walking around like he owned the place and making threats to any who would dare challenge him. There had to be a way to get them all after him. It was a thought, one that would need a lot of work in the meanwhile.
Forty-six. Forty-seven. Forty-eight. Forty-nine...
Every second of every minute counted, waiting patiently. It helped pass the time, it helped keep track. But one of the minutes would matter. One of the minutes would be the time it came to fight. One night, one minute - one battle. Joey was in no way an amazing fighter, but a few men wouldn't be enough to stop him. His will alone would keep him alive. As he waited he kept himself prepared to reach for his knuckle dusters, should the time come for it. Tonight, he hoped, would not be another night wasted. Unless, of course, Argus had made nothing but empty threats. If that were the case it would be an unfortunate turn of events for the man. But despite his mistake of sparing Joey's life, he didn't seem the kind to back down now. Rather, he seemed the kind to send other men to follow up on his threats.
As if on queue Joey heard a small set of footsteps off to his side. Joey glanced over and saw a man on one side, hearing another very quickly appear behind him, both stopping on either side of him. "Ya know, this is nothing personal pal. Just business. I'm sure you understand" the man he was looking at said with a small, almost humble tone to his voice. Joey took a moment to pull his joint out of his mouth after one final inhale, dropping it to the floor and exhaling a little. "Yeah. I understand how it is" Joey replied simply, dropping his joint and sliding his hand into his pocket, placing the Knuckle Dusters on and sliding his pocket watch back into the pocket of his pants. After a few trills the man he had spoken to gave him a nod, respectful. Joey nodded back, yet a thought rushed through his head. This man was no brute. He was smart. He had respect and perhaps even some integrity.
Which meant, perhaps, he could be coerced with more than just violence.
Right now, however, a fight had to happen. The moment Joey's joint hit the ground the man behind him came up, swinging bare fists despite having a dagger clear at his side. Their orders were simply to hurt him, some way of asserting dominance over Joey through physical assault and fear. As the first hit met Joey in the side the drug-dealer let himself take a small fall forward, leaning over for a second as the man that struck him got overzealous and went for another. As he did Joey swung up at his jaw, knuckle dusters adding weight to his punch. In a near-miss Joey hit his neck instead, though it seemed to be in his favor as the larger man fell to his knees and spluttered. From behind him, Joey had an arm wrap around his back and put him hard against the wall by the other gentleman.
Yet as he held Joey up the drug-dealer did not swing, he stared and spoke. "Whatever he pays you, I can pay more" he said, simply and blunt. The man hit Joey hard in the stomach a second time, making eye contact with him. "Not when the Boss owns you, you can't, or I'd be richer than I am now and wouldn't need paying" he shot back with a low growl, readying to swing again and giving Joey the seconds he needed. As the other man swung Joey replicated a fight he had prior, dodging his head aside and letting the man punch the wall. Unfortunately, he was stronger than Foz had been, giving a sharp growl and taking the damage without a sign of even a flinch in his eyes. Yet Joey held him closer, eyes narrowly apart as he stared deep into them with the intensity of a predator staring down a threat.
"Where I'm going, you won't work under anyone you don't decide to work under" he said with a sharper tone, matching the ferocity of the man he was fighting. Sly words weren't going to work on someone that had heard them all before. Joey let go of the man, the two forming a small bit of distance as he lowered his guard a little. "And where exactly are ya going too, huh? Coz I tell you, Rharne always has people that wanna force themselves onto you like a fuckin' leech, so how you planning on avoiding that?" he shot back, though didn't make any physical threats. Joey lowered his hands down and caught his breath a moment, side hurting from the blow he'd received as he took a small inhale.
"I plan on taking over from anyone that thinks they can mess with Joey fucking Lupo" he replied, breathing still heavy from the blow yet face composed. Joey then moved to the man he had hit in the throat and offered a hand out, his breathing steadying out a little bit. "This isn't some kind of trick. It's not some kind of joke. I'm just here to make sure your 'boss' is taken down more than just a peg or two for fucking with the wrong people" he said simply, as a matter of fact with his voice stronger than usual. If only he'd brought more to smoke. His nerves ran high as he talked, though he did his best not to show the full force of it all. Both men took a look at him as the injured man took his hand and stood up.
The injured thug sent to attack finally spoke. "What's in it for us, then?" he said with a slightly raspy voice from the impact, taking a step back and making sure he was ready to beat Joey down if the promise seemed even slightly fake or bullshit. Joey glanced to the two men and reached slowly into his pocket, pulling out a gold nel for each of them. "This and more. Then we split ways, or don't. What happens next isn't my concern, only yours. All I need is a favour" he said simply. The two hesitated with thought, debating their options until the man that had no injuries took the nel and placed it into his own pocket - the injured man following after. "We need to know you're not fucking us over. What the hell do you want us to do?"
Joey leaned back against the wall and took a deep inhale for a moment. "I need people. A small group. Men and women he fucked with, workers of his that are tired of him being in charge - anyone. They meet me here in five trials and we do one simple job. Assuming you all show up and I can trust you, I tell you the job, we get it done and we part ways" he said, before nodding to the pocket they had placed their coins into. "Otherwise, that nel will be what funds your funeral, and I'll take down your boss myself. Choice is yours."
At his threat, the injured man paused and thought. Argus had fucked them over time and time again, caring little for the safety of his own men. He was stupid, beyond stupid. "I'll go without 'nother punch to the neck, thanking you" the man nodded, standing himself up straight. This was his chance to be rid of the Shadow Quarter, to be rid of Argus and move on to better things - without more yelling and suicide missions and reckless drug trades that had some of his friends imprisoned.
Joey glanced to the other who seemed to ponder for a trill longer before offering out his hand to shake. "Consider it done" he said simply, nodding his head to Joey. The two shook hands, Joey then turning to shake hands with the man he had injured. Once they had all made their deal the others walked away into the dark they came from, Joey taking his steps home and focusing. Should they sell him out he'd need to be ready for a war, one he may not win. But if they stayed true to their word he'd see them here soon, ready.
Then would come the fireworks.
Joey waited, eyes focused down on his pocket watch as he smoked in the same alleyway he always took on the way home. This time, however, he waited. He had for Trials, waiting for a few hours each time, patiently smoking and thinking. Thus far, despite the threat, Joey had avoided being assaulted at any time by Argus' men. It likely meant that his wife had said nothing of her betrayal, or Joey arriving at their home with the intent to harm his family. If they had he'd have found himself a dead man by now. No, they knew what was smart, perhaps even hated Argus himself. Now he had an anchor. People inside Argus's life that he would trust to never betray him, yet that worked for Joey and would give him the information he needed. Now he knew the man's business, a small jeweler's downtown that earned him a large sum of money. He knew his schedule, his patterns - knew some of his business partners by name. One night had taught him all he needed.
Yet doing it alone was still a risk. Argus' had thugs, brutes and other paid bodyguards to protect him. Joey wasn't a one-man army, nor would he ever truly be one. But that wasn't his goal. Fighting his own battles was a job for a soldier or a mercenary. Once he had begun his rise to power Joey would have his own men that worked for him, those that would fight his battles for him. Until then, however, he would need an alternative. Argus seemed the kind to make many enemies, brutishly walking around like he owned the place and making threats to any who would dare challenge him. There had to be a way to get them all after him. It was a thought, one that would need a lot of work in the meanwhile.
Forty-six. Forty-seven. Forty-eight. Forty-nine...
Every second of every minute counted, waiting patiently. It helped pass the time, it helped keep track. But one of the minutes would matter. One of the minutes would be the time it came to fight. One night, one minute - one battle. Joey was in no way an amazing fighter, but a few men wouldn't be enough to stop him. His will alone would keep him alive. As he waited he kept himself prepared to reach for his knuckle dusters, should the time come for it. Tonight, he hoped, would not be another night wasted. Unless, of course, Argus had made nothing but empty threats. If that were the case it would be an unfortunate turn of events for the man. But despite his mistake of sparing Joey's life, he didn't seem the kind to back down now. Rather, he seemed the kind to send other men to follow up on his threats.
As if on queue Joey heard a small set of footsteps off to his side. Joey glanced over and saw a man on one side, hearing another very quickly appear behind him, both stopping on either side of him. "Ya know, this is nothing personal pal. Just business. I'm sure you understand" the man he was looking at said with a small, almost humble tone to his voice. Joey took a moment to pull his joint out of his mouth after one final inhale, dropping it to the floor and exhaling a little. "Yeah. I understand how it is" Joey replied simply, dropping his joint and sliding his hand into his pocket, placing the Knuckle Dusters on and sliding his pocket watch back into the pocket of his pants. After a few trills the man he had spoken to gave him a nod, respectful. Joey nodded back, yet a thought rushed through his head. This man was no brute. He was smart. He had respect and perhaps even some integrity.
Which meant, perhaps, he could be coerced with more than just violence.
Right now, however, a fight had to happen. The moment Joey's joint hit the ground the man behind him came up, swinging bare fists despite having a dagger clear at his side. Their orders were simply to hurt him, some way of asserting dominance over Joey through physical assault and fear. As the first hit met Joey in the side the drug-dealer let himself take a small fall forward, leaning over for a second as the man that struck him got overzealous and went for another. As he did Joey swung up at his jaw, knuckle dusters adding weight to his punch. In a near-miss Joey hit his neck instead, though it seemed to be in his favor as the larger man fell to his knees and spluttered. From behind him, Joey had an arm wrap around his back and put him hard against the wall by the other gentleman.
Yet as he held Joey up the drug-dealer did not swing, he stared and spoke. "Whatever he pays you, I can pay more" he said, simply and blunt. The man hit Joey hard in the stomach a second time, making eye contact with him. "Not when the Boss owns you, you can't, or I'd be richer than I am now and wouldn't need paying" he shot back with a low growl, readying to swing again and giving Joey the seconds he needed. As the other man swung Joey replicated a fight he had prior, dodging his head aside and letting the man punch the wall. Unfortunately, he was stronger than Foz had been, giving a sharp growl and taking the damage without a sign of even a flinch in his eyes. Yet Joey held him closer, eyes narrowly apart as he stared deep into them with the intensity of a predator staring down a threat.
"Where I'm going, you won't work under anyone you don't decide to work under" he said with a sharper tone, matching the ferocity of the man he was fighting. Sly words weren't going to work on someone that had heard them all before. Joey let go of the man, the two forming a small bit of distance as he lowered his guard a little. "And where exactly are ya going too, huh? Coz I tell you, Rharne always has people that wanna force themselves onto you like a fuckin' leech, so how you planning on avoiding that?" he shot back, though didn't make any physical threats. Joey lowered his hands down and caught his breath a moment, side hurting from the blow he'd received as he took a small inhale.
"I plan on taking over from anyone that thinks they can mess with Joey fucking Lupo" he replied, breathing still heavy from the blow yet face composed. Joey then moved to the man he had hit in the throat and offered a hand out, his breathing steadying out a little bit. "This isn't some kind of trick. It's not some kind of joke. I'm just here to make sure your 'boss' is taken down more than just a peg or two for fucking with the wrong people" he said simply, as a matter of fact with his voice stronger than usual. If only he'd brought more to smoke. His nerves ran high as he talked, though he did his best not to show the full force of it all. Both men took a look at him as the injured man took his hand and stood up.
The injured thug sent to attack finally spoke. "What's in it for us, then?" he said with a slightly raspy voice from the impact, taking a step back and making sure he was ready to beat Joey down if the promise seemed even slightly fake or bullshit. Joey glanced to the two men and reached slowly into his pocket, pulling out a gold nel for each of them. "This and more. Then we split ways, or don't. What happens next isn't my concern, only yours. All I need is a favour" he said simply. The two hesitated with thought, debating their options until the man that had no injuries took the nel and placed it into his own pocket - the injured man following after. "We need to know you're not fucking us over. What the hell do you want us to do?"
Joey leaned back against the wall and took a deep inhale for a moment. "I need people. A small group. Men and women he fucked with, workers of his that are tired of him being in charge - anyone. They meet me here in five trials and we do one simple job. Assuming you all show up and I can trust you, I tell you the job, we get it done and we part ways" he said, before nodding to the pocket they had placed their coins into. "Otherwise, that nel will be what funds your funeral, and I'll take down your boss myself. Choice is yours."
At his threat, the injured man paused and thought. Argus had fucked them over time and time again, caring little for the safety of his own men. He was stupid, beyond stupid. "I'll go without 'nother punch to the neck, thanking you" the man nodded, standing himself up straight. This was his chance to be rid of the Shadow Quarter, to be rid of Argus and move on to better things - without more yelling and suicide missions and reckless drug trades that had some of his friends imprisoned.
Joey glanced to the other who seemed to ponder for a trill longer before offering out his hand to shake. "Consider it done" he said simply, nodding his head to Joey. The two shook hands, Joey then turning to shake hands with the man he had injured. Once they had all made their deal the others walked away into the dark they came from, Joey taking his steps home and focusing. Should they sell him out he'd need to be ready for a war, one he may not win. But if they stayed true to their word he'd see them here soon, ready.
Then would come the fireworks.
