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Arthur Franklin:
When one works in the business of acquiring goods one inevitably needs a place to store said goods before they go to their respective buyers, and in Arthur's case it was a small but serviceable warehouse located in South Philly a stone's throw from the Delaware River. One would need to know what they were looking for to find it, which was exactly why it had been chosen.
On this particular evening Arthur had stepped out of the building to get some air, leaning against the wall a ways down from the main door with a freshly-lit cigarette in hand.
Vincent Drake:
Vincent may or may not have an evil plan to save the world, or maybe just Philly, which in his mind is the world so hey, it still works. Currently he was parkouring on the roofs, doing Ezio things when he spotted Arthur and grinned, landing a bit behind him. "I heard those things can kill ya." he said, currently in jeans and a shirt with some planets and stars titled 'yes, I am the most important thing in your universe'
Arthur Franklin:
Arthur slipped out of his reverie as Vincent made his sudden descent, that always-present and pleasant smile turned full force to the Daeva as he chuckled. "Wouldn't be the first thing that's tried. How have you been, Mr. Drake?"
Vincent Drake:
"Oh please, I'm only Mr.Drake to empoyee's or when the other person is wearing a collar, my friends call me Vinny." he chuckled, "I've. . .I've gotten some shit together and realized something, big picture things," he shrugged, "So, how have you been enjoying Philly so far?"
Arthur Franklin:
"Vinny it is, then." He nodded, taking a pull from the cigarette and blowing the smoke away from Vincent to be polite and all. "Thoroughly. It's a shift from New York but I'm finding my place in it without too much fuss."
Vincent Drake:
"I've been a Philly boy since I was born, never even left the city limits, it's all I know." he smiled, "But, it's a tough gal, I watch the ten o clock and I see gun violence, discrimination, it hurts me because it hurts Her, ya know?"
Arthur Franklin:
"I follow you, yeah. You have a mind to do something about that, I'm guessing?"
Vincent Drake:
he shrugged, "I am of a mind to care for her yes," he nodded, "What would you do, to help her?" he asked, "How would you curb the violence, keep the shit from spilling out to polite society, keep buisness just buisness."
Arthur Franklin:
"Fair question. If people's needs are met they won't have to take what they need, so that's a place to start if a bit lofty of a goal."
Vincent Drake:
Vincent nodded, but somehow it seemed like he got an answer that was acceptable, but not the mark, "What do you think about regulation and price fixing as it where?" he asked, "and of blessed Concordia?"
Arthur Franklin:
"Price fixing for what, exactly?" Cue a small arch of the eyebrow, a rare shift in the Mask's expression. "Concordia also doesn't ring a bell."
Vincent Drake:
"Concordia was a Roman Goddess, she represented societal agreement, of everything working smoothly together without discourse," he said, "Ok, say two gangs are having a dispute on territory," he offered a scenario, "Not the big sharks like the Warlocks or the Irish, simply two groups of homegrown entrepreneurs having a disagreement on who sells where, what do you think would happen, normally?"
Arthur Franklin:
"Ah hah." He offered a small nod, listening intently as Vincent continued. "Assuming they don't have someone acting as a proper negotiator, they'd likely come to blows over the area in question and cause more trouble than its worth."
Vincent Drake:
"Exactly," he exclaimed, "A proper negotiator, but even then, what authority would a negotiator have, now. . .say their was an authority, not a boss of bosses, not a crown, not one throne, but a ruling body, a council, one that enforced Concord, agreement, and kept the most toxic elements at bay, enforced rules of keeping sex work, which is real work, from being slavery, from keeping product away from playground and schoolyards, the protection of the exploitation and children. . .you ever watch John Wick?"
Arthur Franklin:
"Not yet, although I've heard of it." He allowed himself a chuckle, giving Vincent a proper once-over. "I see what you're aiming for, though. Something like the Families back in New York, keeping things civil and the money moving easily without causing a mess. About right?"
Vincent Drake:
"Something like that," he smiled, he was getting the picture, "With members who would be of the Maddy's crowd." he said, adding the criteria
Arthur Franklin:
"I see...just people like that, or would you be including the wider community as well?"
Vincent Drake:
"People who, are like me, like you, people who are wise, people who are something in-between," he says, a tad hushed, "People like us, buisnesspeople who operate in the underworld, people who have standards and hate seeing the sharks shit everywhere," he says, still hushed, "sharks that need to go, now I'm wondering if you would like a spot at this table, I have a feeling you want the same thing I do, to keep things civil and the money flowing, so all can prosper." he leans back and goes to a normal voice, "There are elements who can't play nice, think they're the ones in charge. . .and who thrive in the violence, they're weeds in the garden."
Arthur Franklin:
That ever-present smile shifted into a smirk, wry little thing that it was. "I'm not built to be front and center like that anymore, honestly. I do appreciate what you're going for, and I'm willing to do my part, but I work better behind the scenes these days."
Vincent Drake:
Vincent shrugged, "Hey, I get it, offer's always open if ya change your mind, that being said," he took a breath and his face went serous, is eyes flashed red a second, "this is between us right, don't need people kicking down my door to nip me in the bud."
Arthur Franklin:
"Of course, of course." He nodded firmly, the kilowatt grin back in place. "Who else have you talked to, out of curiosity?"
Vincent Drake:
"You're the first," he nodded, "I'm in the foundation stage, building a proper group, while you don't want leadership roll, I still need people in said group, so at least membership is still open, so far I got the Night Howler gang in Hunting Park and scouting one of yours, gal named Snowy."
Arthur Franklin:
"Gotcha. You can put me down on that front, then; I've made a point of keeping things as clean as I can manage."
"Snowy..." he repeated the name, thinking a moment before nodding. "Don't think I've run into her yet."
Vincent Drake:
Vincent smiled, extending a hand, "Welcome, ya don't have to call me boss, just Vinny." he joked, "Now. . .I know you guys take promises very seriously, I'm not asking for one, but if you think it would be necissary, that's your choice." he said, offering him if he wants this binding, then vinny continues in a hushed tone, "My own Court, we emphasizes loyalty, promises are important to us to."
Arthur Franklin:
Arthur chuckled as he took the offered hand, giving it a firm, well-practiced shake. "If we get into the nitty gritty then maybe, but you've been above board so far so I'll trust you."
Vincent Drake:
Vincent grinned, "Good, I'd say welcome to, but I'm still workshopping what the fuck to call this, I'll give a call to my pal, Skipper, let him know that Arthur Franklin is an associate." Vincent's grin had fangs in his teeth now, "We're laying the foundation for a new era my friend, an era of Concordia."
Arthur Franklin:
It took a moment for the name to click but when it did Arthur nodded, eyeing those fangs with another small smirk. "Looking forward to it."
Vincent Drake:
"If you think someone will fit, feel free to pass me the name, actively recruiting after all, and please, we're not strong enough to reveal ourselves yet," he then blinks, "Does this mean I get discounts." he chuckled
Arthur Franklin:
"Can do." He nodded then eyed Vincent for a moment, that inscrutable Mask making it nigh impossible to discern how he took that before he chuckled. "We'll see."
Vincent Drake:
Vincent then took out a piece of paper and wrote his contact info, "So, call me if ya need anything, we're in this together now, we'll discuss actual responsibilities and duties when this thing starts getting to the point but I already have rules in mind," he brings up his hand to finger count, "No civilian casualties, if someone is not in the game, they are off limits, children are completely off limits, customers and employee's, if anyone is found messing with them in any way, their dead," he said firmly, "All disputes between groups under our umbrella are to come to the table for parlay and the ruling of the table is to be honored and upheld, this does not apply to those not in our umbrella. . .which right now is everyone." he chuckled, "I'm starting with Hunting Park and Fairhill, those neighborhoods are our goals right now for. . .unification." he gave his info, "This sound fair and acceptable, your buisness and earnings are your own, no need to kick back tribute, although putting resources to the effort is appreciated."
Arthur Franklin:
"Still haven't looked into cards yet, eh?" He smiled, taking the offered paper and pulling his phone to add the contact information while he continued to listen to Vincent. "Sounds solid to me."
"As an aside, saw that you guys got trounced as bad as we did today in baseball. Here's to tomorrow's games going better, yeah?"
Vincent Drake:
"Wait the Philly's," he went wide eyed, "Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck," he bemouned, "You gotta be fucking, how did we, the start of the fucking season-" for those of you watching, it is clear now that a certain young Daeva is a Phillies fantatic with fangs, "You know, we only lost the Series cause Astro's cheat, but," and Arthur just ruined his night
Arthur Franklin:
He gave a truly apologetic look at being the bearer of bad news, giving a solemn nod. "Yeah, it was bad. 16-3 to the Rangers, I think? It was in Texas, if that makes you feel any better. They've got time to work out the kinks."
Vincent Drake:
"16 to-" he just stared at him, "I. . .I have no words." is all he said before sighing, "Well, ya win some ya lost some, and if losing the starting game is the price of getting you on side, so be it." he went back to a smile, "If you need to talk of me when recruiting, don't use my name, behind the curtain for now and all, just call me. . .call me the Shogun."
Arthur Franklin:
"Here here." He raised his cigarette in a small salute, having almost forgotten about it, taking a moment to knock the ash from the end before taking a pull from it.
The chosen moniker earned another small pause from the Wizened, the slightest of smirks flickering across his face before it reset to its normal pleasant placidness. "Noted."
Vincent Drake:
"Hey, I know that look, trust me, I know how it sounds, but I'm a number of things at heart and one of them is a Weeb." he laughed, "Ya know, Nobunaga was called a the Fool of Owari before Demon King, the eccentrics are the ones who surprise everyone in the end, I'm the horse your betting on, so have faith."
Arthur Franklin:
"I'll take your word for it." He chuckled, giving a nod. "I'm definitely interested in seeing how this goes."
Vincent Drake:
"Me too, my future depends on it." he sighed, "I got to get going, glad to have you on board, we'll meet again to discuss things," he nodded, "Until then." he walked off
Arthur Franklin:
"Have a good night." He watched as the young Daeva headed off, shaking his head with a quiet smirk before finishing off his cigarette and heading back inside. He had his own work to get back to, now with a wider goal in mind...
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