Who? Ryder and Andrew
Where? Unofficial HQ :)
When? Monday Evening
Status?: Closed/Incomplete--TBC via AIM and updated
Rating/Disclaimer: R--Language and brutality


They both worked on their own schedules, and while Andrew kept proactive and busy, he seldom had to set an alarm. Of course today, the first time in his life that he was hung-over beyond redemption, with a jaw that even the consumption of vampire blood the night before hadn't healed completely, would be the day that he got an urgent text. It was evening by now, of course, and massive amounts of caffeine had helped the pain to let up somewhat. It didn't matter. He had a job to do. He showed up without much delay, in jeans and a simple grey tshirt under his coat. He sought Ryder out once he was there, to get straight to whatever the problem was.

Ryder had been waiting in his office quietly anger still overboiling from the events that had transpired that evening. He was going to leave Andrew out of it let the guy take a night off for a change -he had been working almost as hard as Ryder had been- but after his own little interrogation he knew this was something he could not keep his partner out of. Ryder did not rise to his feet when Andrew entered, he did swivel his chair to face the man, and nod at an empty seat in front of the desk. "Take a seat..."

He did as instructed, because the pounding in his head made doing much else seem like far, far too much effort. Andrew sank down, looking to his business partner with a patience borne of confidence. Ryder wasn't one to waste his time, so he knew if he was here, there was a good reason, and that he didn't need to go asking a bunch of questions to find out what that reason was. Hopefully nothing that would take long. His brain hurt. His fucking face hurt. The night before had been all adrenaline and alcohol, and a variety of other stimulants, like the blood. Now, he was sober and clear-headed, and he wasn't liking it.

"How well do you know Bryan Miller?" he asked, lacing his fingers together and cracking his nuckles noticing there was still some blood there from earlier. He frowned and grabbed a cloth from the desk, wiping his knuckles clean.
He grimaced and rolled his head back while he thought it over, trying to work out the soreness somewhat, then looked pointedly to Ryder's knuckles. "Not as well as I thought I did, by the look of it. This feels a little bit like an interrogation, Ryder. I'm not going to get hit two days in a row, am I? He's kind od an asshole, but a hard worker, and he's always been respectful to the chain of command. Good for following orders, not as clever as I'd like."

Ryder shook his head and straightened up. "No sorry I'm not trying to interrogate you I'm just....angry that a night that started out with cookies and christmas movie marathons with my sister ended with having to come in here and deal with another of our people who we are supposed to trust is fucking with us." He inhaled softly and sighed "Mr. Miller had himself a little habit...found out he's been dipping into our supplies for months....first a little here or there then a little more...then he started dealing it to make some side money demand skyrocketed and he tried to steal an entire shipment that was supposed to go to bloodtap..."

"I hear you, man. I was sitting at home with Liv drinking fucking eggnog. But it gets me out of Charlie Brown, so what the hell..." He shrugged, resigned. Someone pilfering blood was bad, and it needed to be dealt with harshly, but honestly it could have been worse. It wasn't an unforeseen complication.

"First thing first. The shipment's alright, isn't it?"

"Missing half. Dunno what the fuck he did with it but what I did manage to get out of him is that this little side business is bigger than just him, and just one shipment. I made a meeting with Iris tomorrow to try and smooth things over, sent some of my boys to deal with Mr. Miller's partners and business...."
He nodded, approving of the actions thus far. He was concerned with the rest though, and the tensing of his bruised jaw made that evident. "Alright. Let's go talk to him."

He got to his feet, using the chair to push himself up, and then reached into his jacket to retrieve an well-cared for blade, small and sharp, and clearly not intended to kill. For most people, it would have been a collectors piece, a simple display of fine craftsmanship. But Andrew flipped it open with more in mind than showing it off. "Might not do any good. Just what my head fucking needs..." He flashed a grim little smile, sardonic.

"Worth a shot though, while we're waiting for your little helpers, huh?"

Ryder chuckled softly despite the shitty situation. He had to give Andrew props, for a guy that came off as an average joe nice caring guy sometimes Ryder thought Andrew was more of a monster than he was. "Won't do you any good, he couldn't talk anymore even if he wanted to." Ryder rose to his feet and lead Andrew out of the office and down two doors. He opened it and flicked on a light as he entered. In the middle of the room tied to a metal chair usually used in the booths for making bets on the fights that still sometimes went on in the building but it suit his purposes just fine. Sitting on the chair was Mr. Brian Miller, severely beaten, battered and bruised he was alive -barely- but his jaw was at an almost impossible angle obviously broken.
"Well, that's not very considerate of you." He stopped in the doorway, frowning in distaste at the damaged sight before him. "We could give him a little taste of that blood he likes so goddamn much. It's not very fair if you get a go and I don't..."

He did sound genuinely very disappointed, and he tapped the side of the blade against his leg in agitation.
"Waste more product on him? I'm all ready scrambling to get more so we can fill Iris' shipment..." he replied, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall. "And sorry, I lost my temper but, he's still alive these nice painkillers I got from the hospital mixed with a spell from one of our witch donors keeping his body from going into shock and killing him.....he's got enough left for you to have a go at him too..." he smirked, enjoying the look of fear and panic on the wounded man's broken face.

Andrew looked to Ryder, considering silently. The panic was good. Fear was good. "Alright. Our witch still around? If not, I've got one I can call in... I want to keep him alive until he decides he has some currency of interest to us to buy his right to die, if that's still possible, maybe fix up these fingers so he can write. I don't like to be unfair. He's got to be able to communicate. You've got some anger issues, Ryder. You ought to talk to someone about that."

He hardly looked at the dear Mr. Bryan Miller as he approached him. They had worked together. Andrew had never been unwontedly harsh with any of his crew. He was strict, he made his expectations clear, and if orders were followed, he didn't give anyone shit. And he was, to most people, likable enough. Outgoing, with a vibrant sense of humor. Ryder was right about that--he seemed absolutely mundane and average in most instances, and that made him easy to misjudge. "I've never done this on a human, you know?"

The words were conversational, and if Ryder hadn't just been in the other room with him and seen that he was exhausted and sore, he wouldn't have known it now. His voice wasn't must different from the one he used on those occasions the two found to sit and have a few drinks. "I think I might have to just wing it. Maybe you've got some pointers. He's not gonna just heal up for me. Do we have anything we can heat up to keep him from bleeding out."

He stopped beside the gentleman who had, until perhaps a few hours ago, been in his employ, glancing down and reaching to coil his fingers into the other's hair to hold him still, while his left hand came up to allow the bright metal of the knife to caress the side of Mr. Miller's head, just above his ear. "Tap out if you feel like chatting, Bryan."

"She's not here but she's nearby..." ryder replied "Spells should hold for a few hours we can call her back after that...I kinda like this uncomfortable pain look on him for now, suits his treacherous ass..." he laughed a little, making no comment to Andrew's declaration that Ryder had anger issues because he knew damn well he did, but he had no desire to do anything about it so why bring it up? He watched from his spot on the wall as Andrew approached Mr. Miller, talked to him, threatened him and found himself appreciating Andrew's work. He was a careful monster Ryder found that highly intriguing.

He hadn't meant it literally, of course, but there wasn't much point in making a joke if you had to explain it. He just assumed people were following along, and when it got him in trouble, so be it. Andrew had taken to the violence with surprising appreciation for it, a thing that had startled him once. Now, he was content. Now and again he got into fights he didn't intend to, but thus far he'd never lifted a hand against anyone he cared about unless it was necessary. When so many of the people he knew were vampires, it literally did become necessary on occasion.

He was grateful it hadn't come to that with Olivia yet, but he was also, in a dark way, grateful for this opportunity. Especially after the shit with Nick the night before. He had kept his shit together then, aside from the yelling match in the waiting room, and then the second one with Olivia in the parking lot.

It was a clean cut, abrupt and unhesitating, gliding almost tenderly through skin and cartilage. He kept hold of Brian's hair, ad watched with real curiosity to see how much bleeding would result in the loss of an ear.

"No hard feelings if I overdo it, I hope, Ryder... Like I said, new to the whole human bit."

Ryder shook his head and waved him off "No no by all means go ahead do your worst don't hold back..." he looked at Bryan with a wide grin "I know I didn't..."