Fresh Meat

[Lucien DeChain]

Lucien would stare at the pair for a second. "It's good to see you, too, Rose."

The mystery guy was bowing to him and Marcus, which he thought was a bit odd. He looked around his age, even though he was so tall, but something seemed familiar about his facial structure...

At any rate, Lucien would speak. "I realize that you were trying to get our attention, but, really, you could have just asked." As Lucien thought about it, that probably wouldn't have worked, either. No, definitely not.

"Now, if it's as important as you say, we shouldn't be talking about it here. You will both accompany us to a safehouse not far from here. We can talk there. Understood?"

[Marcus Prasad]

They put thier swords away. This was good, because Marcus was still contemplating all the nasty painful things he could do to the pair using thier own swords by the time Lucien stepped forward and began to speak.
Seriously? Starting a fight on the outskirts of another factions territory in the hopes of luring out thier members? Clever, yes. Smart?

FUCK NO!

The normally easy going, roguish grin Marcus always seemed to have plastered on his face was nowhere to be seen at the moment. Instead his lips were pressed tight and his eyes were narrow. Not exactly angry per say. Irritable, most definatly. It culminated into a palpable heavy Aura that cloaked himself and the area around them.

"-we shouldn't be talking about it here. You will both accompany us to a safehouse-"

"Lucien."
Marcus interupted sharply, putting a hand on the young lads shoulder.
"A word please. Excuse us for a moment."
That last sentance aimed at Rose and the newcommer as Marcus lead Lucien a few feet away and pulled thier heads close. When he spoke again, it was in a muffled whisper that only the two of them could hear.

"Look, a quick crash course on Safehouses.
One, they are completely useless when you go showing them off. We do not EVER speak of them or anything unless under the most dire circumstances and two, we are IN Crow territory. Why would we need a safehouse in our own territory? Next time you want to conduct Crow business, use one of the Bars we have sanctioned. Like so."

Pulling away, giving Lucien a pat on the back Marcus returned to the Dragon and the Drifter.
"Sorry about that. New blood got his definitions snoop'naggled. What he meant to say is that we have an Establishment close by that would be accomadating to any business you two may have with us. But before we go, I would like to establish this here and now. Unsheath those blades in our territory again for any reason other than to defend your own lives, and I shall Personaly break them. Inside you. The Dragons and the Crows have a tentative, TENTATIVE alliance of sorts fostered at the moment. It would be a shame to see all of First Blacks hard work go to waste because a low level dragon decided to be clever."

Ah. That felt good.

"Now if you two don't mind following us?"
Marcus would then turn down the street and begin making his way towards a Pub he tended to frequent whenever he was in the area. At once the Barkeep, a woman amazonian in size and disposition, recognized Marcus and Lucien, beckoning them over with a wave. The grimace on Marcus' face and the aura of hostility immediatly melting away in the quiet but friendly atmosphere as a few Crow soldiers sat on a makeshift stage and played various instruments for an appreciative crowd.

Quickly, he asked for a few drinks and a booth in the 'back room' where Crows tended to conduct exactly the kind of business Marcus, Lucien and the others were about to conduct. Once the doors closed behind them, they would find themselves within a well lit room with brick walls and a concrete floor covered by a large frayed carpet, black leather sofa's and a fold up table in the center.

With his trademark smirk back on his face, Marcus would gesture to the furniture.
"If you would all have a seat, we can begin. Now what brings you both here on this fine auspicious morning?"

[Raikotsu Sudeki]

Rose would speak first.

"First of all I would just like to clear something up. I am a Sudeki, not a Dragon. Rai has chosen the path of a Dragon I have not given them my life or my blade. So any transgressions made by me will be reflected only on me. Though I am sorry for not knowing your customs."

[Marcus Prasad]

Marcus waved Roses' declaration away dismissively.
"Cold reality little one, being a Sudeki generaly means people assume your Dragon by association. You can blame big papa Leon for that one. Irregardless, The matter is dropped. Use more conventional means to warn us next time and everything should be fine."

Suddenly a thought crossed his mind. The lad didn't come with Rose. Rose happened upon him after he entered Crow territory. Now Marcus would lock eyes with the new guy, his gaze mellow and relaxed on the surface, but hiding a deep intensity as he analyzed and assesed in the blink of an eye.

"So......who are you? What brings you to our little neck of the woods?"
He asked with the kind of tone reserved for a long lost friend.

[Koshiro WarHazzard]

Koshiro noticed this was a genuinely nice guy. He stood up and walked over to Marcus, held out his hand to shake

"I am Koshiro....WarHazzard. I am here to request permission to join the Crows, and to stop Sean Barker."
The tone suddenly changed to a serious and almost sad tone.
"He hurt the only family I had left. I am going to do anything I can to see him brought down."

His tone went back to the friendly normal tone he used.
"Oh, and I am looking for a cure for my cousin, maybe you know him. Sidervib WarHazzard?"

[Lucien DeChain]

Lucien would follow Marcus to the bar, looking slightly sheepish at his little fopah. It's true he was still learning as a Crow, but he still should have known better.

Once at the bar, he would listen to the conversation, first to Rose, then to Marcus. Finally, to Koshiro. Warhazzard? And then it was mentioned that he was Sidervib's cousin.

He would actually whisper into Marcus' ear, glancing around with wide eyes as if he was telling some schoolboy secret. Though, he was actually saying something along the lines of:

"Sidervib WarHazzard was one of the men who helped free Mr. Zack Asiv. He is one of Mr. Barker's experiments, and was under his employ for quite some time. Though I trusted him then, my judgement may have been clouded. Maybe we should make sure this isn't a trick?"

Satisfied, he would sit back say openly, "Yes, I know Sider, though I haven't seen him in some time.. How is he, currently?"

[Raikotsu Sudeki]

Rose would interject to answer Lucien.

"He is currently with Rai and his two new apprentices to attend the young ones initiation into the Dragons, whether or not he decides to join I know not, but I don't think Rai is going to initiate him in today even if that is what he would like."

[Marcus Prasad]

Well that was certainly alot of information to mull over in such a short amount of time. Marcus frowned and stared at his shoes, legs stretched out with the feet crossed infront of him after Lucien whispered in his ear. Cousin of a former Barker Soldier? Lucien didn't want to vouche for him. Rose seemed to think high enough of the boys cousins character not to kill him outright for ever working with Barker. Helped break Asiv out eh? Marcus was there when Asiv gave himself up in the first place. He had also read Delilahs report of the Aftermath. The boy seemed like he could handle himself.

Then why was he getting an odd feeling about this?

Marcus let the silence stretch for a few minutes more, a thoughtful frown on his face after Rose said her piece. Finaly he would look up and gaze directly into Koshiro's eyes as if the boy was a puzzle he wanted to solve.

"Why us?"
The question was plain. Marcus wanted to get the measure of the lad himself and so his gaze was also meant to hold Koshiro's full attention, giving the impression that they were the only ones in the room.

[Koshiro WarHazzard]

Koshiro's face went from the normal joyous light to a deep serious gaze and met Marcus' eyes.

"Barker hurt my cousin, I hate him. I want to kill Barker, and help my cousin. I think my skills in stealth and speed can be best utilized by the crows. I fully intend to train under Rai later on. However for now, you are my best bet to kill Barker, or help my cousin. I want to help the crows in their move against the Barker army. I want to help. I need to help. I wont idly stand by and watch. If you deny me into your group, I will still help the crows as best I can. I should clarify. I am here to help. I have no other intentions toward the crows. I want to be the one to slowly sink my sword into Barker's throat, but knowing that probably wont be my privilege, whoever it is, I want to help them in any way I can. For now, That's the crows. Later that may be the dragons. Whatever stops evil is where I will be. If the crows take out barker and try to become the evil that scourges this land, I will not hesitate to turn against you, but assuming that you are as good as they say, I will fit in just fine."

Koshiro continued to look at Marcus.

"I became a mercenary to kill the bad people....."

He turned and looked toward the window.

"....and not to let good ones die. Knowing what happened to Sider's family, that feeling is more intense that ever. Knowing it, I feel almost as though I have failed."

He looked back at Marcus

"Marcus........I don't fail."

[Lucien DeChain]

Lucien listened intently, an actual frown growing on his slight face. This sounded slightly familiar, but with some key differences. Some that Lucien, let alone Marcus or the First, would be worried about.

As Koshiro finished his piece, Lucien would speak up.

"You talk about good and evil like you know them both intently. So, what's the separation between them? When your cousin, Sidervib, worked for Mr. Barker, he was convinced he was doing good. All those soldiers under his control? They probably think that they're the good guys, too."

He would lean forward, staring intently into the large man's purple eyes. This would have looked calculating, and possibly intimidating, if it was from anyone else. From Lucien, it just looked like a kid trying to imitate his dad.

"So, my question to you is this. Why are you, in your mind, the sole judge of who is deemed 'good' and 'evil'? What is the force of good, and what does it represent to you? What is evil? Because, you are an individual, and your individual view of moral polarity," He inwardly congratulated himself on his use of the word of the day. "May not, in fact will not, match up with the moral and ethical views of the Crows."

He leaned back then, and stared. How Koshiro answered this, well, it would definitely create a distinction in Lucien's mind. As for his chances of joining the Crows, well, that wasn't up to him.

[Raikotsu Sudeki]

Rose sat in silence. Waiting to here the answer that Koshiro would give.

[Koshiro WarHazzard]

Koshiro looked at Lucien. Intently thinking of his response.
Not really sure how to phrase it or how it would sound.

"Good is..Seeing a child on the street hungry and alone and doing everything in your power to help, weather it be handing her an apple, or helping her find the way home. I was lost once and found a man I thought was the good guy. He turned out to be very evil. Sometimes the line is blurred between right and wrong. But if you see the child on the street and say aww too bad and leave her there to suffer, If you see a man dying in the street and do nothing, is that not evil? I wont let that happen. The fundamentals on a larger scale, If a man leads an army that kills for no reason but personal profit, and does experiments on those that are innocent. Is he not evil? On the matter of Sider...."

His tone dropped to sadness and remorse.

"Sider has lost his way, He lost those close to him. He has gone down a dark path. One I'm not sure I can bring him back from. I will do everything in my power to bring him back. The person that knelt down at the edge of barker territory Is not the person he truly is. that it the lost soul reaching out at least I very much hope that is not who he has truly become "

[Marcus Prasad]

A slow knowing smile would creep along Marcus' face as the young man explained himself. He would have to remember to give Junior a pat on the head for that one. Lucien certainly was skiddish, but a fool he was not. As for Koshiro, Marcus would pause for a moment before finaly clearing his throat.

"Vengance."
Marcus would utter with all the gravitas of a judge announcing his decision.
"You want to stop Barker because Barker hurt you and the ones you love. Admirable yes, but it's easy to rage against the machine when it's personal. Fighting for revenge does NOT make you righteous. Those who fight for revenge see only whats infront of them. They are SELFISH and many lose the fire when thier thirst for vengance is quenched. Unpredictable. Untrustworthy."

Marcus paused, sitting back almost regally in his chair as he looked Koshiro over, letting his words sink in.

"We are CROW. We Fight not for Revenge against Barkers evil, but for Justice! Barker has hurt us all, there is not one damn person in our orginization left unscathed by Barkers reach. I myself lost my home. New York City was burned to the ground because of Barker. But that is NOT why I fight.

I. Fight for Justice. The Crows Fight for Justice. Justice for those who know not Justice, for those too weak to fight. We lend our strength, our body, mind and soul to the People NOT because Barker hurt us, but because it is the Right thing to do. Much like your analogy for Good. We Protect the sick dying man on the road without hesitation because we believe that is the right thing to do. Not because we know that person, or because we expect something of that person."

"A Person seeking vengance would ignore that sick person in favor of thier vengance every time. That is NOT Crow. That is not who we are. We help the People FIRST and hurt Barker Second. Every time. Many would think that a weakness, but in fact it's the greatest source of our strength."

Eyes alight, voice soaked in passion as his words fired from his mouth with almost physical force, Marcus spoke, his eyes never leaving the young man before him. After he was done, Marcus let out a quiet but deep sigh, visably relaxing. Crossing one leg over the other, his stern visage melted, smile returning, mischevious glint shining in his eyes.

"So boyo. Think you can put all that away and fight for something greater than yourself?"

[Koshiro WarHazzard]

"The Crows fight for those that can not fight for themselves"
Koshiro looked down. then after a few seconds of mulling over the words that Marcus had said, slowly rose his head. His eyes lit with a new fire, His face with a smirk. he looked at Marcus

"Sounds like this is exactly the place for me."

Koshiro pulled his sword and handed it to Marcus.
"My sword, My skills, everything that makes me...Me, is a tool for the Crows, if you'll take me. My quench for Justice and blood wouldn't be quenched before Barker. It won't be after him. I became a Merc for the same reasons as the crows are here. "

[Lucien DeChain]

{OOC: Short post, mostly reactionary. Sorry}

Lucien listened intently to Koshiro, thinking to himself that his answer was kind of black and grey. But, it seemed as if Marcus was thinking the same thing, because as soon as the large dark-skinned man opened his mouth, Lucien was almost literally hit by his speech. Now, if that's not the voice of a Crow, I don't know what is.

As his commanding officer finished, Koshiro took a second and spoke again, his eyes reignited. And, though his argument was not the greatest, there was intent in his eyes. And the good kind of intent.

He would stay silent, looking from Koshiro to Marcus. It really was his call, as Lucien was under his command.