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"You tried Bass guitar? all the low of upright with the fun of running around stage and playing heavier music" said skotti.

"Well it aint a brutal battle with the undead but the shade broke her upper body one winter before a gig. She got wasted and hopped on top of a car and slipped, long story short, as soon as she could walk, she was doing her share of "rehab" on stage at the Cramp room." said skotti.

Faris walked into the building that the man had pointed to. He dragged behind him two wheeling bag and over his shoulder hung a blue duffel fill with random stuff he built. Struggling into the foray, he sighed as he got to the stairs. He really wasn't looking forward to the stairs.

"Yep almost four years, mom and dad. Four years since I left home to start on my own." Pen looked lazily in the water below thinking back to when she was 15 and all the goals she had. "I promised didn't I? Told you I wouldn't be alone when you two went. That I'll have a family to watch over and take care of me." She gave a slight smile as she ran through the gang's roster in her head. Going through the times they watch her back and she watched theirs and all the good stuff in between.

Though Pen had to admit this wouldn't be a permanent family at all. The higher ranks will retire and leave, letting in new blood. That included both Skotti and Luc for they are the highest rank. Others will marry and leave as well such as Waffle and returning to her home. Some might earn an honest living for a living, like Lana going to demolishing or Shade and her singing career.

They had options, Pen had them. Only a matter time before she wouldn't have that anymore. However right now thats what she had. No bother to pout about something that hasn't happened. She gave small sigh and watched her shimmering reflection down below reminding herself how important those people were to begin with.

It was then two figures' reflections appeared in the water behind Pen's. Two burly looking dudes with shades and switchblades. The were dressed like bouncers, with tight black t-shirts and straight cut blue jeans. Their hair buzzed and blank expressions as they stood Pen looked smaller in size. However, not in personality.

"About time. If you going to leave notes in a girl's mailbox, you darn make sure your not late." Pen growled at the men who just stood unmoving. Her expression contorted with annoyance and anger. She stood straight and giving them both a sneer.

The two then began to move leading Pen towards the Isle of Gambino. This is where her questions about said note would be answered. Unfortunately Pen thought, by the author, a man she knew oh too well and wished she would forget.

As everyone else was chatting about, Sabe also realized that Pen was not around. He considered checking her room to see if she was asleep or something, but he was not the kind of person to intrude on people.

The thought of Pen having not returned to HQ began to cross his mind, and Sabe became a little lost in thought.

Sabe could hear the phone ring off into the distance. Seeing that everyone else was busy in one way or another, he left to answer it. Sam was on the other line and began asking a multitude of questions about Pen, checking if she had gotten home safely. Sabe replied, saying that he hadn't seen Pen at all. They continued to talk some more, and the call eventually ended. As Sabe hung up the phone, he grimaced as his earlier thought was very likely to be confirmed. How to bring this up with everyone else was a whole other situation too.

Silvina had been watching Sabe as he left to answer the phone, curious as to the grimace on his face when he returned, and jumped as Luciano suddenly addressed her.

"I slept very deeply, thank you." She tried to bring a smile onto her face to match Luciano's cheerful expression but she knew hers looked fake after so many years of beng taught to never smile. Quickly wiping it away to her usual blank look she stood from her seat and moved towards the stairs.

"I'll go see if she is in her room." Quickly ascending the stairs she made her way down the hall towards Pen's room, not looking forward to having to shake the elf awake. But as she briskly knocked on the door and paused she heard no answer. Figuring that Pen's might be in a deep sleep after so tiring a night she gently pushed the door open to look at the dark room.

On look at the bed told her that Pen hadn't slept there last night and she bit her lip as she rapidly ran through different ways to break to Luciano that his pseudo-sister hadn't come home last night. No gentle option came to her, and she gave a quiet sigh as she backed out of the room and closed the door.

As Pen and her "escorts" reached the Isle of Gambino she all of sudden became aware of her fatigue and hunger. An order of Tsao's Chicken with a side of chow mein sounds real good right now. Though with the current situation, it was better to finish her business with the coordinator of this outing.

They entered Gold mountain and she was directed to a back room. The lights were dim and the air was damp but the escorts didn't follow with her but stood outside the door. There in the shadows was the man who caused this feeling of nostalgia. It had been awhile since seeing this man again but part of her wanted to forget her utter failure.

"Now how come you didn't tell me you were alive, Riche? You made me worry."