Joseph Tropiano (luckandchance) wrote in low_tide, @ 2010-02-06 01:46:00 |
|
|||
Current mood: | indescribable |
Entry tags: | joseph tropiano, npc |
People Get Stupid
Joseph was pretty sure he’d seen everything there was to see in this world, but he hadn’t been ready for two blondes walking down the street chained - literally chained - together.
People and their kinks, some were apparently more brave than others when it came to sharing those sorts of things with the world.
Not that there was anything wrong with a little… Joseph caught that train of thought and chuckled softly around the filter end of a cigarette that had long lost its warmth.
He’d effectively wiped out half of his competition with his little adventure with matches and gasoline, meaning there wasn’t so much friction and tension on the streets of Key West. It also meant that people had started seeking him out, looking to make deals and get on his good side.
Things were going according to plan, vampire heavy aside, but he wasn’t about to let a threat towards his life deter or slow him down in any way whatsoever. If anything it just made him even more focused, determined to end this dance once and for all.
The only problem with having caused such a stir and made such epic tidal waves was somebody somewhere along the line was bound to get stupid and that stupid came all but crashing into Joseph’s life mere seconds later.
“Jesus,” he muttered as he caught the weight of a new recruit by the name of Victor. “What the hell happened to you?”
Words should have come easily to the young man, but if anything they seemed to get lodged in the back of his throat. It took Joseph a moment to realise that there was something wrong, very wrong. There was blood, too much blood. “Fuck.”
He felt the kid’s legs give long before it even registered on the young man’s face, Joseph grunted through his teeth as he did all he could to support and stop Victor from hitting the ground like a ton of bricks. Never mind the fact he was getting blood all over him.
“Hey,” Joseph muttered as he recognised the glazing look in Victor’s eyes. “C’mon, man. Stay with me.” He placed one palm over the source of bleeding and just cupped the back of Victor’s neck with his other hand. “It’s going to be okay, just gotta keep breathing.”
Victor shook his head and looked up at Joseph. “Just- Just wanted to show you that I could take care of business, like you.”
Some days Joseph fucking hated what he did.
“What happened?”
“I was-” Victor’s eyes fluttered. “There was a warehouse, thought if I could clear it out then maybe… maybe you’d-”
Joseph was busy dialling a number, muttering a location and extent of injury. He might not be able to take the kid to a hospital, but he could get him seen to. Joseph had his own medical person on standby, for situations like this.
“Hey,” Joseph muttered as he made eye contact with Victor. “You’re not paid to use your own initiative, that’s what I’m for. Remember that for next time, alright?” Because there was totally going to be a next time. Victor gave a weak smile and nodded, eyes sliding shut that had Joseph’s own widening. “Victor? Kid?” Joseph braced his phone between shoulder and ear as he sought out a pulse, giving a small sigh of relief as sure enough there was still one, albeit weak and thready.
Fucking hell, this job was going to be the death of him. Figuratively and literally if his enemies had their way about it.
Joseph was in for a long night.