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"I don't know how you walk down the street without girls and guys alike trying to jump you." He responded drily to Stryphe's first comment.

"I figured you'd say that, and apparently so did V." He reached into his coat pocket and took out a piece of paper. I was looking pretty tattered by now considering he had taken it everywhere over the past few months. Course it wasn't a museum piece, so he unceremoniously tossed it at the demon.

When he unfolded it he would see a long list of names; all of which he would remember and all of which in V's handwriting. Next to each name, this time in Joseph's handwriting, were notes. Everything from last seen locations, to descriptions to favourite haunts. The company money had gone into these people.

The fact remained though that only three of the names had a red check mark next to them. Stryphe's own, Charles White and the name "Crimson" crossed out with "Allen" next to it.

"The big hint was in the ink splotch up top." Needless to say there was a very crude ink sketch of a serpent. A Black Dragon even.

"What I'm trying to show," He was an expert smoker, could take deep breaths of cancer whenever there was a period, "That our viral friend had worked very hard to have me do the work you'd be too lazy to do. But that's the contrast you two always had right? You'd mope around some mountains, he'd be uniting the crew after his body was mutilated in an explosion."

"Wit aside. I have a proposition."

It was a touch subject. Joseph dropped it like it was hot, and not in the funky way.

"I have a building, money and a general lack of scruples. You have time, the connections to get those people working under you again and a general idea of how the criminal underworld works." He paused to let it sink in, "Now lets see what we need. You need a building and all the latest gear. Plus the virus I'm rebuilding would be nice too. I need someone too keep an eye on the underworld and get technologies that need getting."

"Two organisations, completely separate of each other, yet both helping the other one turn a massive profit." He put his business smile on, "If that's not convincing enough I'm willing to offer three of my subbasements. They're all bigger in floor space than this building so I think it would be more than enough room."

"Besides, now that you're done camping it's about time to get back to the good life. Right?" He was insufferable, loveable, but insufferable.

Joseph nearly spat up his cigarette when he heard the titbit about Sey and her baby.

"How the hell does she figure that happened?" He leaned forward slightly interested, "She does know that certain things have to happen right? I mean, kid's pretty sheltered in that temple. Maybe she thinks kissing gets you pregnant or that the stork comes. Some ******** up fairy tale like that."

"Mr. Brown." A human voice stated over the intercom, "We have just received word of your predicament. The lock down should be lifted in a few minutes."

"Bout ******** time." Joseph was still swearing like a sailor, "Well, when you do make a decision you know where to find me. Plus there's a huge a** holiday party coming up soon. If getting all the rich people drunk isn't a good distraction while you move a syndicate into your basement, I have no ******** clue what is.

"But if you're looking for something to do," He made a head tilt towards the paper, "I'd start looking for the next guy on the list. Not too far off, working in some sort of bar I think. Seems like the kind that would want back into the biz."

With that the red emergency lights faded back into the halogen hanging lights and the lock down points began to creek open.

The beaten-up armored van rolled into the now-unlocked parking garage, Charles's clearance being no problem, no problem a-tall.

Oh man, the Chauffeur thought with a grimace as he rolled the van down the ramps, Joe's gonna kill me when he sees this van...

It was then that he rounded the corner into the warzone of Joseph and Stryphe, Charles's jaw nearly hitting the floor of the car. He quickly parked the van and jumped out, dragging his jaw with him. "WHAT THE ******** HAPPENED HERE?!"

"One too many poor drivers. White mages don't belong behind the wheel without proper training. You should see what your cavalry driver over here did to the one you took," Charles said with a laugh.

"Are things coming together well? And are all these cars insured?"

Degobah rushed over to his boss. "You okay man? Maybe we should get you upstairs..."

He helped Joseph stand upright and started him towards the elevator. "And maybe we should check on our lobby, make sure it's still in one piece."

Charles's eyes grew wide with quasi-stroke shock. "Some of these cars are uninsured... of course."

Urge to maim.... subsiding.

"I do like a good day-or week- worth of auto repairs. For a fee, of course." The Chauffeur helped Joseph into the elevator and pushed the button labeled "L" with a star next to it, signifying the main floor.

"You coming Stryphe? You and Sey've got some chemistry, right? The doors are closing."