'Twas the year of 1938; an era of hostile balance among the European nations. It was that of pre-World War II, where Germany was slowly trying to gain information and brew tactics to overthrow their American adversaries. However, it was because of this conflict that some individuals in German and Italian territories, do not wish to take part, or form a grudge. Some didn't want to be labeled as fascist, only wanting peace and bonding with other nations.

This has been especially difficult on Charlotte's part, since she and her brother are from German terrain. Rudol quickly wanted to get involved, mainly to show his enthusiastic home pride. After a climbing effort, he was named commander of the faction. Oh, you could count the many attempts of elbowing his little sister to take part; that her intellect would prove itself as an asset. Instead, the nineteen year-old fled to France, disguising her own accent, until she was discovered by an agent of the Speedwagon Foundation.

She was then contacted personally by the Robert E. O. Speedwagon in her hotel room, a few days later, promised a getaway from further hardship. She was then relocated, where the agency had revealed its confidential nature. Knowing that she would be protected, as reassured by the founder, Charlotte met satisfaction, and proved to be quite inquisitive and intellectual to the world of the supernatural, while having to tend to Robert's needs, of whom became quite the father-figure. It was then that she became informed of the Joestar family, whose horrific past has only brought sympathy and horror upon the blonde, especially since her boss held great faith and highly-regarded them. The very story aroused Charlotte's curiosity and compassionate nature, to the point where she wanted to study the Stone Masks, and understand the evil force that terrorized the family, those many years ago.

However, knowing of their dangerous power, Robert abruptly refused. Charlotte understood his fear, since that very experience has clearly left him scarred, by a long shot. She confided in the old man; respected him, like a daughter would, to her father. She knew that he was trying to protect her from the past that he himself had barely escaped from. He insisted that it was a burden he should face alone. Unfortunately, it wasn't to last, as she received an SOS from the research site. It was nighttime when she arrived, having to find blood everywhere...but no bodies. There was a trail, leading out of the entrance, and at a nearby river, where she managed to find a bleeding Speedwagon.

She managed to stop the bleeding with her lab coat. Charlotte didn't know what in God's name caused the carnage, but then, she wondered if this was why he didn't want her anywhere near the Masks; that they harnessed a power that they couldn't counter. However, the obvious fear in his voice confirmed this; that the past has caught up with the old man. He didn't want her to call for backup; in fact, he didn't want her to bring anyone to the scene, in case, whatever did this, comes back to the scene. Robert hurriedly gave her a picture of Joseph and Erina Joestar, and told her to "find and warn them" in a harsh whisper, and to "get away from here". And she did, albeit reluctantly.

It was a familial order by the one she called "father" (she and Rudol have lost their parents at a young age). Now, here she was, in New York City of the Americas, after having to be notified that she would find Erina and Joseph at a restaurant, somewhere in town. She figured that they would be a very friendly bunch, as she was told (she was warned about the hot-tempered and cheeky nature of Erina's grandson), and get engulfed in a conversation, full of sympathies and surges of comfort. However, by the time she sat down at their table, donned in a short red dress, with one leg over the other (after Smokey was nice enough to grab her a chair), she didn't expect the tall young man to get involved in a fist-fight in the middle of the restaurant.

"Hey, big guy! If you're looking for your knuckles, they aren't in your coat pocket! They're in the back pocket of your pants!"
Joseph pointed out to the beefy mafia as the man reached for his coat. A look of surprise flashed on the mafia's face as he failed to find his weapon in his coat, but instead the exact pocket Joseph pointed out. With a smug grin on his face, Joseph stretched out a finger at him.
"Your next line is 'How did you know about the knuckles, you brat?!'"
"How did you know about the knuckles, you brat?! Eh?"
Dazzling the mafia with his skills, Joseph proceeded to explain the evidences he used to bring out his logical conclusion. The mafia man didn't seem to care one bit and charged blindly at Joseph, his fist flailing around as blunt and simple as he looked. Though it seemed like Joseph was on the losing side for a moment, it was soon revealed that Joseph used a standing coat rack to block the man's attack. Instead of beating Joseph to a pulp, he had planted his own fist into a sharp wooden structure.
As the beefy mafia screamed in pain, a more sly man stood up from the same table. Joseph turned to face him in another fight, but he shook his head.
"Please forgive my henchman's disrespect. The madmame over there must be Mrs. Erina Joestar, right? I've gotten quite an amount of help from Mr. Speedwagon, so I've heard of you back in London too. It's of luck that we've met. I came across an info some time ago, but Mr. Speedwagon has been killed. Rumors say the murderer is a monk from Tibet."

Once again, she thought that the encounter would be pleasant, and give sad news in the most gentle way possible. She found herself assuming that the dear friends of Mister Speedwagon, would be a friendly bunch. And right now, she nearly choked on her cup of water, once she heard the one called "Joseph" point out something that no other human being could point out, at first glance. What shocked Charlotte more, was the fact that Erina Joestar was quite content with her grandson's assault. Clearly, everything that the tall, young man said, was right. The genius improvisation and quick-thinking has made him ten steps ahead of the assailant. It was shock, wonder, and confusion, all felt in this one particular scenario, and the blonde shook her head, when she realized that she had been staring in curiosity for too long.

Carefully putting her drink down, Charlotte thought fast, out of instinct, and hoisted one of the chairs with her foot, to tip it, and catapult it in the offensive man's direction, knocking him silly. It finished him off, apparently, as he fell over, after enduring such a maneuver.
"There is this element that these people have here, and it's called manners".
She said; her German accent coming out, thickly, shortly before she crossed her leg back over the other, and fixing her long hair. However, before things could even calm down, one of the groups' bosses announced the news, causing Charlotte to tense.
'I was just about to say the same thing. At least say it with some sentiment. But wait, "some monk from Tibet?" Robert mentioned to me about a practitioner in the art of Ripple. Straizo, I think, was his name.'

"Nice shot!"
Joseph threw a salute at Charlotte as she finished the aggressor with one swift, graceful move. It was some display of skill that she pulled out.

As the bunch was processing the information he had given, the mafia pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and held it by his mouth. Joseph approached him as he pointed out that his lighter would be in his chest pocket.
"He's a mafia, Joseph! How can you trust the information from a man like him?"
Smokey asked him with concern.
"I can trust it because he is a mafia. He works for the ones who pay him, and would never give away their trust. However!"
Joseph planted a punch in the man's guts.
"Though he speaks the truth, I cannot forgive him for bringing such a depressing news for grandmother Erina!"
Leaving the sprawled man behind, Joseph returned to Erina and calmed her down with a hug. Though she was afraid, she wasn't just afraid for Speedwagon. She was afraid that this would be an old destiny crawling back to Joseph, the horror coming back.
'If it is my fate coming for me, I'll greet it with open arms.' Joseph thought to himself.

Fixing her hair, the German woman gave a smile and lifted her eyebrows, as her way of acknowledging his compliment. "Are all of you mafia like this? Unsympathetic? Unfair?", Charlotte asked in disbelief and borderline curiosity, as she stood up from where she sat, and walked to the other side of the table to comfort the elderly woman. "Clearly lacking respect on every part of their being too", she commented, in addition, to Smokey's interjection about the man, as well as Joseph's displeasure of his grandmother in such distress. It was disgusting on the man's part and, for once, she actually felt quite content with the male Joestar's actions.

Charlotte kept herself at Erina's side, until the young man came back to take her place.
"Master Joestar, we might need to talk about this in private", she quietly suggested.

Joseph turned to Charlotte as she adddessed him. He gave another gentle pat to Erina's shoulder. After all the commotion they've caused-whether it was of a just cause or not- it was a good idea to discuss this matter privately.
"Alright, let's move to somewhere else."
He escorted Erina and the rest of the group out of the restaurant. They fetched a cab to move on.

Charlotte nodded, once the young man turned to look at her, as a way to confirm that such a discussion should not be addressed in a public place. It was rather strange, since she had just watched this man become hot-blooded, not too long ago, and he would miraculously show a calm and compassionate disposition. Obviously, he was truly a very caring person, who apparently has a flaw of acting on impulse.
The blonde woman mentally kept that note to herself, as they departed the building, helping to escort Erina safely, before calling a cab.
Once they were inside, she told them everything. From where she received the red-flag from Speedwagon, to where she was deliberately told to not come back to the scene, and seek them out.

"Straizo was the name he told me, and that he would be looking for you, to finish the job that Dio started", she finished.
"Whether Speedwagon survived, I don't know", it was a solemn and troubling thought, having to close her eyes, whilst keeping a compassionate hand on the elderly woman, who returned the action, in kind.
"Dear child, I have known Robert for, as long as my husband did. Honorable and selfless as he is, he would be the first to ensure that you made it out alive first", it was a sympathetic remark, really to shed light that if he was indeed dead, then he made a noble departure to ensure Charlotte's safety.

Joseph quietly listened as Charlotte unraveled the story she had to tell with her and Speedwagon. At the end of it, he wasn't showing any signs of anger on his face, but the fists were clenched tight.
It wasn't a pleasant experience to hear the loss of a dear persond the betrayal of a trusted man having to do with it.
"Then there is no reason to wait, is there?"
He opened up as Erina spoke of Speedwagon's sacrifice to save the young lady and have the message delivered. Though his warning was to never return, Joseph had a different idea. He was going to see with his own eyes what happened. He would have his revengr on Straizo.
"Let's go find the man then."

The time to mourn clearly wasn't on the mind of Mister Joestar, which made Charlotte open her eyes, and look at him in surprise. The Englishman, turned-American, had a different idea, and the blonde started to wonder, if Speedwagon truly survived. The thought could only be answered by the culprit and, judging by his clenched fists, Sir Joseph was determined to know the verdict. Some kind of hunch told Charlotte that Robert was alive, and that he was walking around, as they speak.
It was as if his words have ignited a fire inside the German girl, dawning upon Charlotte that she should not have run away, in the first place. The truth will come to light, once they find the man responsible. She nodded at his decision. "I'll join you", she finalized.

-------------------------

Later in the day, the two were on a bit of a stake-out. Funny enough, Joseph thought the very term was to actually get meat, which only brought amusement to the blonde and, to suit the joke, here they were, sitting in a restaurant, eating literal steak. Charlotte changed out of her red dress, and put on a more casual attire, donned with blue and white themes. If her instincts were right, then Straizo would be the one seeking Sir Joestar out. So, she had to convince the brown-haired man to be the bait (sort of).

There was an awkward silence between the two, mostly maintained by the man. Joseph was in deep sorrow from the misunderstanding he had made about the term "stake-out". Who would've known it meant more than what it sounded? The embarrassment was long lasting in his heart, and all he could wish of Charlotte was to not bring it up again to make fun of him and his mistake. But hey, at least they got actual meat. Joseph chewed on his piece of steak silently.

Lucky for him, Joseph's thoughts of his embarrassment could wait as he noticed a strangely familiar figure staring at him from outside the restaurant window. A grim grin flashed on his face, on which Joseph noticed a pair of inhumanly sharp fangs. Startled by the sudden encounter, Joseph nearly rocketed out of his chair. He could hardly hold himself back now. Gesturing Charlotte to follow, Joseph walked out of the restaurant to face the man outside. The figure remained silent.
"Hey there! You seem like an odd man."
Silent or not, Joseph started a conversation.
"I'm not sure if I can't see your reflection on the restaurant window. Or if I can. And I'm not sure if I saw a pair of fangs when you smiled, or if I didn't see a pair of fangs."
Joseph circled around the man as if scanning for anything dangerous. Though there was no evident proof that this man was Straizo, he could feel it. This was the traitor he'd been looking for.

How awkward it was, indeed. Here, Charlotte was, silently eating some steak with the young man she managed to convince in being the bait of-sorts. The previous events in her mind went by, like a slideshow: Her youth, her meeting with Speedwagon, her time of tending to his nearly-every need, her time of doing research for his company....and her finding of his body, on the grip of staying alive. She held his hand, pleading for him to slowly breathe, so she could call for help. But he didn't let her; just gave her the picture of Joseph and Erina, and told her to just run away, and don't look back.

But then, the events after ending up in England was something she didn't expect to find in her lifetime. For some reason, Charlotte was taking momentary glances at Joseph, who sat across from her. The man must be going through a cascade of emotions right now; the primary ones being anger or sorrow. At the same tine, it was his very determination to find out what happened to Robert, that sparked a kind of inspiration within the woman, that made her convinced that they could find out for themselves. It was quite inspiring, really -- minus the fact that the both of them just walked out of a fist fight in a public restaurant, not too long ago. Charlotte didn't really expect herself to be showing that side of her, but somehow, a person's lack of manners really irked her. Like a trigger. How Charlotte seems so vulnerable, right now, just seems almost a bit out of character, from the Charlotte back then.

Her thoughts were caught off, once the Englishman gestured for her to follow, maybe his lead? Looking to where he was looking, it was a rather medium-sized man in the shadows with long dark hair. Was this the man they were meant to pursue? Was this Straizo? The fangs and red eyes were a dead-giveaway to something vampiric. Robert's story suddenly came back to her. 'Pointed teeth and eyes, red of the devil himself', she remembered. It was the perfect comparison.
"You must be Straizo. Is that right?", she questioned the figure.

Straizo opened his mouth as Charlotte asked him a question. Though it was an unnecessary answer, he seemed quite eager to provide it. But before he could say anything, Joseph pulled something from behind him. There was a fully loaded tommy gun pointed at the vampire. With the click of a trigger, it started unloading its lead onto the figure, sending him toppling into the restaurant as Joseph unleashed his wrath without mercy.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
After a few seconds of barrage, the magazine was empty. Throwing the gun away, Joseph ushered the watching citizens to run away by threatening them with a glare. The restaurant, now suffering from the barrage Joseph unleashed on Straizo(there were way too many blind bullets that flew into the furniture), was dark inside as the lights had been damaged.
"I'd be happy to see that he's dead..."
Joseph gritted his teeth as he walked inside. Though he didn't show any visible gestures at Charlotte, he was expecting her to follow in.
He knew a vampire wouldn't go down from this much damage.

By getting a look at their stalker's face sent chills down Charlotte's spine, but that fire of determination allowed her stand her ground. Of all the oddities, regarding the Speedwagon Foundation, it was the founder's insistence of keeping the blonde scientist from the dangerous hostility of any supernatural relics that were in his company's keeping, mainly because of the fact that he emotionally confided in the German woman, like another family member, and vice-versa. She wanted to poke and prod the man, who may have killed her father-figure, but before she could try to get an answer from him, Joseph beat her to it - with a tommy gun in his arsenal! Just by seeing it, made Charlotte shout in surprise.
'When did he get a gun?!', she mentally exclaimed; her jaw nearly hitting the ground, shortly before he unleashed the weapon's entire arsenal on the black-haired man, causing the blonde to take a step back, and cover her ears from the sound of gunfire. By the time the loud, impeding sound dissipated, it told Charlotte that the young man was out of ammo.
"Scheisse, Joestar!", she cursed at him, before smacking him upside the head. "A little bit of a warning would be nice!"
Gazing at the now-damaged restaurant, the young woman looked around for the vampyric man, who went toppling inside. She was careful in entering the building; the glass crunching underneath her blue, heeled, ankle-boots. The place was completely tarnished, like a tornado had just hit (minus all of the small holes, caused by His Truly!).
"He can't be dead; not like in Mister Speedwagon's story", she thought aloud.

"Granny Erina told me about it."
Joseph followed Charlotte into the ruined interior, holding his gun like a bat now. He had enough knowledge about these vampires. He's heard about the tales of his grandfather and his struggle, and that was enough to know what those things could do. Surviving a barrage of bullets was one of them. But that hardly mattered to the young Joestar. What the man by the name of Straizo did was an unforgivable act. A simple, swift strike won't do for him. He gritted his teeth with anger.

As the two walked in, a figure rose in the dark. Squashed bullets fell off to the ground, clanging against the tiles. The only damage the vampire seemed to have received were countless holes on his coat.

"Speedwagon told me a lot about these creatures. In fact, I wanted to study them. But, of course, he refused; not wanting me to get...too tied up into his burdens".

Charlotte said, as a matter of fact, as she carefully navigated through the messy restaurant. Thankfully, there were no dead bodies on the ground, meaning that Sir Joestar was very, very, very lucky to not leave any casualties. The last thing they needed, was to get arrested, and have their vengeful journey delayed, while Straizo runs free. Therefore, they had to check if some harm was actually inflicted upon the vampire. At first, she wasn't aware of a figure, rising up in the dark. But then, it was the sound of multiple clattering that made her stiffen, and carefully turning around. "Herr (Sir) Joestar", she said in a hushed voice, while tapping his muscular forearm to get his attention.

The bullets were falling to the door, rolling to their feet.
Charlotte watched them for a moment, before looking back up at Straizo, who was slowly regenerating from the shots that were given to him.
"Don't you think we should...?"

"Judging from what I've heard, attempting a close up research eould be as good as suicide."
Joseph kept his eyes on the rising vampire as he and his companion advanced further into the mess of a restaurant. When Charlotte gently reached for his forearm with a suggestion to walk away, the man shook his head. The barrage had hardly done anything. If they attempted to run, that would be a plain bad choice. Not to mention that he still had a few more tricks up his sleeves. Instead he gestured Chalotte to back away.
"I got this. You stay back."

Straizo's eyes scanned the two as he threw the final few bullets off of his torso with a twist. He raised a fist before them.
"Dio's reason of defeat was enjoying his powers. He wanted to experiment and discover the limits of his true strength. That created an opening on him, being the cause of his defeat! But I, Straizo, am different. I shall test my limits luxuriously once I am done dealing with you!"
He looked over to the lady next to him.
"And your lady friend too, if she is to interfere!"

Back then, Charlotte had been thinking, for a long time, on why Mister Speedwagon wouldn't let her anywhere near the Stone Masks. Though she was told to not delve too deep into the past, Sir Joestar's comment had the gears in her head turn... before coming to a stop. How could she be so naïve? The blonde looked down at the ground for a moment, having to think, whether or not, she should be mad at her own stupidity. She was lucky to not be a victim. However, Charlotte knew it wasn't something to be proud of. A few days ago, people she knew have died, in the presence of this artifact, and Straizo, who harnessed its power, might know the fate of Speedwagon.

She'll find him, and make it up to him, if he did indeed survive. He should...he should....

Joseph refused to retreat, upon suggestion, much to Charlotte's surprise. But then, she remembered that Sir Joestar was persistent, and was going to get answers, no matter what; the same reason why she had joined him. Therefore, Charlotte stood her ground, moving a few paces behind Joseph, in case he had a plan. If so, she was curious. He might attempt those same tricks from the restaurant again.

Charlotte's jaw dropped, as she watched the bullets fall to the ground, having to not affect Straizo, in any shape or form. There was no physical injury on him, leaving the blonde with a spine-chill feeling to traverse throughout her entire body. "Where is Speedwagon?!", she demanded; courage coursing through her, despite her apparent fear. "Where is he? Tell us!"

Joseph stole a glance at the woman as she joined him and questioned the vampire. He hadn’t seen her full strength, but seeing her stand her ground in front of such a formidable foe spoke enough. Even he himself would’ve never thought of facing a vampire up close, had it not been the situations that brought him there. He had gained a trusty friend.
“If you’re not going to tell us by yourself, I’ll find a way to make you say it.”
He took a step further. He could feel the chills go down his spine as he got closer to the vampire. But it was a necessary step for his next trick, and as an insurance to one specific move he knew.

As Joseph drew near, Straizo scoffed.
“You eill learn of it, eventually. For now, you will have to face me. The first move is the one that Dio used to kill Jonathan!”
Straizo’s eyes bloated as he stared into Joseph. Streams of fluid flew like a ray of light at where Joseph was standing, each landing on his forehead and throat. Seeing the strike land a clean hit on the man, the vampire scoffed and turned to Charlotte.
“Hmmph, an easy fight. When I’m done with you, I will find old Erina Joestar.”

Charlotte's eyes shook, and her heart started to race, upon seeing Joseph get closer to the creature. She wanted to stop him; prevent him from getting into Straizo's personal circle, but immediately held her tongue, as she stayed behind the young man. The blonde woman acted fast, out of instinct, by crouching down, once she heard the vampire speak. He suddenly put himself on the offense, making her gasp and shout. "Herr (Sir) Joestar!"

Her eyes widened in shock. Her expression lingered, until it became that of courage and determination. "You preach of knowing limits, but you, Straizo-lieb (dear), seem to forget the basics", Charlotte said; a smirk appearing on her beautiful features. "I suggest looking up", she gestured to the clock. 'Made you look', the blonde took quick action, and threw something at his Achilles in a particular angle. It was a decent-sized piece of glass. She had managed to discreetly pick it up, upon kneeling down.