Alain was standing behind the bar during a lull in the crowd, wiping down the counter. His sleeves were rolled up past his elbows, a cigarette hung from his lips and he had money on his mind. He paused to lean on the back bar and rub at his whiskered jaw, quietly considering the rest of the room - some changes in decoration and better ways to bring in the customers.

An old man stepped through the front door. He looked like an ancient sailor. Grizzled short beard, rough-skinned, wrinkled; he?d obviously seen better days. Short and bowlegged he shuffled across the floor towards the bar slowly, dressed in garb that makes peasants seem rich. Grey eyes, squinted, beady, stare at Alain with a cold dark menace, although the old man?s expression was lively and open, a complete contrast to those eyes.

Howe looked out of the eyes of the sailor. He could sense the greed that came off of Alain like a warm wave. The man was hungry: for power, for money, for sex. All the things that tend to bring a smile to demonic lips. And smile the old man did as he came to a stop at the bar. Fingers fall to drum on the bar top as the old man took a seat.

?Whiskey, straight up, laddie. Nice place ya got here.? The voice sounded husky, overused, raised too many times over too many storms at sea. ?So, tell me about this place. I ain?t been here before.?

Now, as any good demon would, Howe was already assessing the bar?s security, seeking to know its limits, seeking to find holes. If Alain could keep his bar safe, it would mean he was right for the job of keeping the Senior Partners of DCH safe as well. But? Howe still wasn?t all that certain about the lad. Today Howe planned to decide one way or the other. Of course, it all depended on Alain and the next few minutes.

Alain studied the old man closely, and even his nose twitched, though the scent of him told him nothing, except that he smells like old people tend to. Even when he smiled cheerfully in greeting, he was still sizing the old man up. Alain did it to everyone he met. "Well, we just opened the Silver Mark Pub & Brewery a couple months ago. We brew our own lagers, pale, amber, and black varieties, and distribute to several bars this side of the river, including the Red Dragon Inn." He set the whiskey in front of the old man. "Would you like to open a tab?"

So far, Alain had not read any threats off the man... but he wondered how a wizened sailor could be fucked to care what a bartender can say about his bar.

The old sailor laughed, it had a familiar rusty sound. ?A tab? Why, that would be nice, young man. Beer and ale; is that what you brew?? Howe could sense that teleportation wouldn?t be easy in or out of the place. The security was focused not only on human threats but any of those likely to be roaming through Rhy?Din. So the boy had brains. Howe had already known that. ?Thanks.? Offered as a token as the old sailor lifted the glass of whiskey, but didn?t bother to drink.

The old man does indeed smell. The scent of sea water hung around him like a proverbial shroud. But Alain had talents most humans do not and he could tell something was off; the old man isn?t what he seems. But other than that hint of ?off-ness?, little else could be gleamed from the odor. Except for the laugh, it had a sound Alain had recently heard from a scribe met in the inn.

?Oi, to be young again. I bet you get a lot of action, eh? Handsome laddie like you. Bet ya got yourself a bevy of women.? The sailor brandished the glass as he spoke. ?Ya got yourself a favorite lass, eh??

Howe was fishing. It was after all his favorite pastime. However, knowing who Alain was close to might prove helpful? on down the road.

If not for that "off-ness," Alain may have stopped paying close attention. The old man played the game well, asking questions casually, typical of an old sailor. "In a city like this, how's a young man like me to pick favorites?" He chuckled, keeping the admission of lust casual. Whoever this man was, whatever was familiar about him, he didn't want him knowing he suspected something... "Bevy would be nice, but you can't get everything you want, I suppose."

That laugh... what's familiar about that laugh?

The old sailor leaned elbows on the top of the bar, beady grey eyes hard on Alain. ?What if I tole ya I know a way ya could get yourself a bevy of wimin? or coin or maybe ya want power? What would ya be willing to give in exchange for somethin? like that, eh??

The old sailor leered at Alain; the glass of whiskey was sat aside. An index finger tapped at the side of the crooked, bulging nose. ?I got ways of givin? ya what ya want, I jus' need to know what that is. So, laddie, what is it ya want, eh?"

It clicked suddenly. Alain?s lips curved in a smile, and he leaned over to put the cigarette out in an ashtray. Then he lit another, not saying a single word until he'd had a few puffs. "I'd like a lot of things - RhyDin's most beautiful and willing women working for me... enough capital to corner the ale and contract security markets... but what I want most of all?" He leaned forward, and grinned around his cigarette.

"I want you to stop beating around the bush and let me meet the man you work for."

The old sailor laughed, slapping a palm down on the bar. ?Tricky, tricky, tricky. You avoided telling me what you are willing to give, laddie. But I?m sure we?ll get the answer to that question over time, aren?t you??

With a sly shake of his head he gestured around at the bar. ?Like the security on the place. You think you can handle three floors? What about magical attacks? You have tricks up your sleeves for those too? And?? As the old man spoke, the image began to mutate. At first it was like a hologram shimmering in and out. Then it began to morph, angles changing and beefy features semi-imposed over the old man?s withered face. Until at last the figure grew distinct. The heavy-weight man with the fine expensive suit and Santa-like jowls, granted Alain a cold, reptilian smile. ?You think I would send a servant to do my bidding in this endeavor, boy? You think me that big a fool? Think again. In matters of this importance I am hands on. Now? Let?s get down to business, shall we??

Alain watched the transformation, his expression cool... and then tapped his cigarette over the ashtray.

"I can take care of you. I'm not much more than a mortal, but I'm well-connected, so whatever I can't do with my own hands, I can arrange. Three floors... How many rooms?" He climbed over the bar and went to the door, and flipped the sign over - the Silver Mark was closed to the outside world. Then he returned to the bar. He didn?t show it, but the demon unnerved him - he felt his blood racing.

Thin lips curled into a gleeful smile, something dark moved behind beady brown eyes as Howe watched Alain. ?Does it matter how many rooms? You can pick up the blueprints tomorrow if you like. What I want to know is can you offer us personal protection; myself and my two partners? We?d like the freedom to move around town. Of late that freedom has been infringed upon. Do you have the resources available, or the training to put something like that together for us??

The smell had changed. The scent of sea and water has been replaced by fine cologne and expensive cigars. Howe drummed fingers against the bar top as he watched Alain expectantly. It was almost as if he was looking for answers for unasked questions in the man?s face. A hint of a satisfied smirk played over thin lips as Howe nodded to his own thoughts. It seemed he didn?t care if Alain saw the play of expression, or had he done it on purpose, to manipulate the man?

Alain took the seat beside Howe and ran his fingers through his hair, looking at the ceiling, thinking. "...Yeah, I can arrange it. I can put my people on it, or train a new team. I run the best security company in town, and I'm sure you'll find I'm very resourceful."

He took a puff, thought, and then looked at Howe. "The Bloods?"

Two words that brought an immediate noticeable shift to the attorney; Howe?s body tensed, the smirk turned into a scowl and when he spoke his voice was barely above a growl. ?Yes, pesky insects abound in this realm, Mister D?Mourir. I do hope you don?t have problems squashing the bugs??

Howe turned to face Alain, beady eyes narrowing. ?You want power, boy? You want all the pretty women at your feet? You want money? I can give it all to you. But it comes with a price. Part of that price is you do as I say. Understood? I say jump, you say: how high. I say kill, you say yes. Can you do that, boy? Are you capable of squashing my bugs when I demand it??

"I've killed worse than the Bloods when I was a weaker, stupider man than I am now. I can fix your bug problem. Can you buy it?" Alain' was smiling now - he liked how this has turned. Maybe, just maybe, he was learning how to push the old man's buttons already.

?Name your price boy?? Howe gave Alain his cold, reptilian smile, clasping his hands together on his wide chest and belly. He looked rather benevolent until one saw those brown beady malicious eyes. Evil shone from the murky depths. ?If you can take care of my ?pest problem?, son, I will be happy to give you whatever you want. Hmm, you ever take a gander at them Blood women? Maybe I?ll toss in a few of those for your ?bevy?, eh??

Howe?s laughter was course, cruel, and full of arrogance. Alain had indeed found a button and it seemed in pushing it he was getting a productive response. Howe was totally locked into himself and obviously pleased with the direction Alain had taken things.

"Maybe you can give me Sid," Alain said plainly, lips curving in a dangerous smile. "Enough money to start another brewery south of the river and for me to finish building myself a house out in the mountains... those would be nice... but that leggy Trueblood..." He shook his head slowly, and laughed quietly to himself. "I must have her."

?Sid?!? Howe laughed fully amused. ?Son, if you can hand me Corwyn?s head on a platter? I?ll give you whomever you want. The money? Not an issue. Name your price and the coins are yours. I figure a steady salary alongside a fat contract bonus? That should start your ?projects? for you. I must say, I would have chosen a more manageable female personally, but if you have the balls, boy, she?s all yours.?

Now? could Howe deliver on such a promise? It remained to be seen. Howe gave absolute confidence he could.

Alain looked at Howe, his smiled wickedly curious - he must have Sid, after all, so he said, "Tell me about this... Corwyn." He looked away only long enough to write down a few figures on an old receipt, and then he passed them over.

Howe took the offered piece of paper, smirking. ?Corwyn is the reputed leader of the Bloods. Ahhh, but you don?t know that do you? Ever heard of Long Lankyn??

Howe glanced at the receipt as he waited for Alain?s response. A brow arched and he smiled coldly, nodding. Yes, Mister D?Mourir was turning out to be a wonderful find after all. His expression reflected his thoughts.

"I've heard the name," Alain said. "I have my information on the Bloods, and I'm sure you have yours - if we put them together, maybe we can get you Corwyn's head after all."

Alain watched this man read over the figures and think to himself, and tried not to be chilled by it all - nor by the strong feelings of greed, power-hunger, and lust that were vying for dominance, all the stronger in this demon's presence.

Howe placed a hand on the bar and then moved it away slowly, leaving behind a rather large sum of paper money. ?You familiar with the Stars End Sector? They have banks over there, son. Use them. Put this money in the bank, they will give you a credit stick. You can use if anywhere in the realm I hear.? Howe let thin lips curl into a pleased smile as he nodded. ?You think you could dig up more on the Bloods than we could at DCH?! You are an arrogant pup. You?ll learn over time that we have a wide reach, D?Mourir. We know a lot of things about a lot of people. Of course, all that information will be at your fingertips; a lot of power, a lot of control over those who you hold that information about. You?re taking the job then??

Howe felt the rising heart rate of Alain, but he took it as a sign that the boy was excited about his suddenly bright future. D?Mourir?s smell hadn?t changed in the least; it still reeked of lust, desire and greed. Alain?s surface thoughts were all that Howe picked up. Howe didn?t bother to dig any deeper, he trusted the intensity of the sins because he recognized them and they appealed to him. Just as Belial and Sid had predicted.

Alain counted out the bills quickly and pocketed them... and then, in spite of his fears, he stole himself, calmed his nerves, and offered Mr. Howe his hand, lifting his chin. "Consider it a deal... Mister...?"

?Howe, son, Mister Howe at your service,? Once again that reptilian smile pulled thin lips as he took the offered hand, shaking it firmly. His hand was cold and rough to the touch, as near a reflection of that smile as anything could have been. ?Oh, yes. One last bit of business, Mister D?Mourir.? Howe paused beady eyes fell hard on the detective. ?That young co-worker of yours; what was her name again?? His voice trailed off inquisitively, then without waiting for Alain to answer he continued. ?Wren, yes that was her name, I want her working with us. I will pay extra to have her? on hand so to speak. Such a pure soul that one, I am very interested in getting a few more tastes.?

Could Alain do it? Offer up Wren to the Big Bad Wolf?

Alain looked the lawyer in the eyes, smiling a touch, and said to him, "Consider it done, Mister Howe." He kept his heart from twisting over it - the emotional anguish had to wait until after this man has left him alone.

?Perfect. We have ourselves a deal. I am sure when you are ready for more we?ll do this again, yes?? Howe sounded so sure of himself, as if he knew that Alain wouldn?t be able to stop or control his cravings. ?I look forward to working with the both of you.? Howe extracted his hand from Alain as he stood. He reached inside the expensive suit jacket and withdrew a manila envelope which he offered to Alain. ?Instructions? on where you will be working, until the offices are reopened. Along with your contract, D?Mourir, I expect it signed when next we meet.? Howe didn?t say anything about what Alain needed to use to sign it.

?You?ll be starting on Monday. My partners and I are in a great hurry to get things back on track. We?ve been out of business far too long already. Don?t bother to bring the pure Wren with you yet. I?ll tell you when I want her about.? Howe smirked, it was a very unpleasant thing, it hinted at dark thoughts about the poor young girl and what fate he seemed to have in store for her. ?Yes, I am already looking forward to our relationship, son.?

"I'm already enjoying it, Mr. Howe," Alain said, nodding his head to him. "You enjoy your evening." His smile spread, his hungers made it all the more wicked. The manila envelope was set on the bar, though out of manners, he wouldn?t open it until the lawyer had left.

As Howe made his way towards the exit the image of the old sailor returned. He offered Alain a smiling wave, so benign, such a kindly looking old man, except for those cold grey eyes. ?A goodnight to you too, laddie, and here?s hoping ya find yerself a hot young thing to spend it with!?

Out the front door he stepped, yet the smell of him lingered like a miasma in his wake, filling the senses of Alain; a chilling reminder of his deal with the demon.

Alain could only wait ten seconds after Mister Howe left the bar, his hand wrapped around the abandoned glass. Then he spun and hurtled it against the wall where it shattered. Alain was left staring at the spot, breathing heavily.

((Authors? Note: Co-written by the players of Alain and Howe.))