[IC] Nocturnal Memoirs: An Urban-Fantasy Mafia Epic (Page 3)

Antonio Litwin, 'Iceman'

Mentions:@fluxGun Team Clover(Donkey, Snaptrap). Interactions:@EstylwenIceman

Brewery District - The Jolly Jalopy

Antonio shook Iceman again. “There you go. Some life coming back to those eyes. How are you feeling my friend?”

Iceman blinked, face awash with blatant confusion, his mouth opening attempting to communicate. “brruuueegghh…”

Antonio produced a bucket and placed it atop the bar. Iceman’s hands brushed against it before sending it tumbling to the floor, clanging toward the door. One of the two Akula gunmen present stopped it with their foot while the second sat and raised his hand for a drink. The first gunman shot a look at the second. “What are you doing? We’re security, do your job.”

The second snorted under their breath. “What, against this guy? He’s harmless, aren'cha blue boy?”

The Akula slapped him on the shoulder. Iceman groaned back. “Mmmmmmm…”.

Antonio poured a drink, passing the glass to Iceman then sliding the bottle to the Akula at the bar. “He’s our guest of honour, and for escorting him you get a little bonus with the bottle for the effort.” Antonio looked with hands open to the Akula still standing on guard. “No need to fret. We’re having a little celebration.”

Iceman’s eyes snapped open before slowly closing again. Leaning over the bar he looked to the floor where Antonio stood only to find his legs were roots weaving into and under the floor. The sobering sight allowed his mouth to slur a little more coherently.

”Fuck, am I still high? Could sworn- are you really rooted to the ground?” The man said, rubbing his face with a hand, before glancing around.

”And where the hell am I?”

Celebrations weren't at the forefront of his mind, he felt sore all over, exhausted, and itchy. His hands shook. Fuck. That wasn't good. Instead, his eye was sliding down to the drink Antonio offered him, wondering if it would take off the edge.

Antonio slapped Iceman’s shoulder again, gesturing to the drink. “The Jolly Jalopy my friend! The bar at the end of the world that refuses to die. A place for legends like you. You’ve accomplished so much in one night it impressed even me. Just ask these two, that isn’t easy.” The sober Akula shot a disgusted look at Iceman while the drunk Akula simply saluted him.

”The Jolly Jalopy…” the man echoed, hands reaching around to grasp the glass. Testing its weight, before feeling a little desperate from the shakes, and tossed the whole drink back in one fell swoop, setting the glass on the counter firmly, wiping his mouth and wincing reflexively. 

”Shit, that's strong.”

He shivered there, bouncing his legs and rubbing his arms, murmuring a bit to himself, before he started to get off his seat. ”Well, I appreciate all this, but there's someone I gotta go find-”

Antonio poured another drink while speaking above Iceman, gaining his attention while a vine weaved behind the door. “Let yourself warm up first. On the house. If there’s someone you need to find, I know a lot of people. My boys here could give you a ride afterward, faster than walking, surely.”

The man winced, shaking his head. [b]”Nah, you don't understand. I’m plenty warm. Just… got the shakes. Fuck.” 

He shook his head again, gritting his teeth as if to try and stop whatever he was feeling, before tossing back the second drink. It tapped the counter firmly, before his eyes glanced to the door. Then narrowed, his jaw setting.

”There's something you want, isn't there, Mister…” His voice hung, staring at Antonio questioningly. Two drinks was quite the payload for him, however, and his insides were certainly starting to feel warm.

Antonio shrugged. “Litwin. What I want isn’t much, I just want to hear about your incredible evening. A place of legends needs stories to tell. Tell me your story of last night, and we’ll call it even.” A small smile grew as Antonio picked up the bottle, gesturing if the Iceman wanted another drink.

The man considered it for a moment, before he nodded, and pushed his glass a little forward. When Antonio had topped him up, he leaned his forearms on the counter, fingers drumming as he recounted the tale.

”I didn't think much of it, at the time. I just wanted a fun night. Get real loose, ya know? Some pushers scoped me out, and they offered me some free drugs. Of course I said yeah. They put my in the back of a van. Had this strange, glowy stuff they injected."

“...And then, bam.” Iceman's eyes lit up, hands gesturing how a firework would light up.

”The euphoria kicked in. The gyft kicked in. I could move an entire blizzard if I wanted to. It was cold, but the cold didn't hurt me. I was the cold."

“I could hear screams, but I didn't care. I just wanted to push how far my ice could go. Then those pushers started shooting at me. I slapped ‘em up real good-” He puffed out his chest. ”-...Before I think I passed out. And…”

He raised a shaky hand. ”No ice. Just the shakes. Those fuckers…”

He shook his head grimly, before tossing back his third drink. Now he was leaning a bit on the counter to support himself. ”So, ya see, I gotta go find ‘em… Beat the shit outta them, and get more of that shit…”

Antonio looked lost in thought for a moment before his eyes shot back to Iceman. “Those fuckers gave you a Gyft…” A chuckle escaped Antonio. “My friend, you have given an old man hope for a future I’ve only dreamt of. Please. Let me help you. Let my two men here assist you to get more of that shit. All I ask is you tell me everything you find on your journey. Do that, and I’ll make sure you have a never ending supply for yourself personally.”

The man's eyes lit up, ”Done.”

The sober Akula spoke out garnering the attention of no one. “What? He’s a murderer, this isn’t how we do things.”

The drunk Akula swung on his chair to face the other. “Don’t be a bitch. You’ve seen dead bodies before. Old mate just had a rough one. We’ve all had rough ones.”

The other responded. “Dude Donkey, Snapper and you were shitting it like me walking past all those bodies last night. Why are you so cool about it now-?”

Antonio handed a key to Iceman and gestured for him to go upstairs while interrupting the sober Akula. “You heard him, what happened wasn’t his fault. Besides, he's an asset who wants to assist our operations.”

The sober Akula shot back. “Yeah, I heard him. ‘I didn't care. I just wanted to push how far my ice could go’. He’s a fucking monster. Does the Eel know about this?”

Antonio’s eyes now gazed firmly toward the sober Akula, a vine once again sliding up behind the door. “Unfortunately I don’t think the Eel will ever be any the wiser.”

The sober Akula scrunched their eyes for a moment contemplating Antonio’s words before they went wide. Turning for the door vines already slammed it shut. A wooden clattering from the bar, the sober Akula spun with hands grasping at their rifle only to be tackled to the floor by the drunk Akula. The Drunk’s hands curled around the throat of the Sober’s. The desperate grapple continued as Antonio raised a phone. Dialing a number he continued onto other business while the grim struggle on the floor entertained him.

Antonio Litwin, Flint Weathersteel

Mentions: Military. Interactions:@EstylwenFlint Weathersteel

The ringing stopped. Antonio introduced himself. “Weathersteel? Flint Weathersteel. My name is Antonio Litwin. Perhaps you’ve heard of the legends behind the Jolly Jalopy? No matter if not. I have an offer for you.”

”Not many offers I pick up.” Flint said on the other end of the line. ”You've got my ear, though.”

Antonio rested an elbow on the bar, head resting on his hand. “There have been rumours of a project of yours. A project that might not be understood by outsiders, one that might even offend them to the point of violence. I understand you have the manpower to likely complete this project, but I worry the world might undo it. What I have to offer is a solution to ensure the result of that project remains indefinitely.”

Flint scoffed from his office, peering down through the shades at the rabble below. His cell was on speaker phone on his desk, and he had turned his back to it, as if to punish it.

Someone in his ranks had spoken. Someone had the gall to accept bribe money for dropping a secret. Which secret, he could figure out easily enough. For he had more than one project on the go. 

But what was more important was letting Mr. Litwin think he had the advantage here. So he simply turned back to his desk, eyeing the phone with a dark smirk.

”And what solution might that be, Mr. Litwin?”

Antonio's expression turned still. “A solution to ensure the wall stays down.” Antonio turned the phone, making sure the struggling could be heard through the microphone and turned the camera on, capturing the two Akula's wrestling for their lives on the floor.

Antonio spoke on. “The best of friends, believe it or not. Meeting a tragic conclusion.”

The sober Akula broke the stranglehold, gasping and spluttering. “Dude it's me! Stop! He's in your head. He's in your-!” The strangling continued.

Antonio turned off the camera. “Now I want you to imagine such dedication to a cause, your cause, from the leaders who think they can decide our fate from outside. I'm aware your talents can achieve such a result, but mine can extend them across the world. That might guarantee you the time to do what you're setting out to achieve, or at least increase your chances.”

There was a hum of intrigue on the other end of the line. ”So let me get this straight. You want to mind-control the military around us. Ensure no one puts back up the Wall after it's been torn down.”

“You do have me curious. Deals go both ways though, don't they? What would you require of me?”

Anontio rolled the phone in his hand. “Correct, as for what I would require? Why-.” The struggling on the floor intensified. Antonio pushed the phone against his ear. “I would-”. The sober Akula broke the grasp again, gasping, screaming. Antonio shielded the microphone, yelling at the drunk Akula. “The bucket. Use the bucket for god’s sake.”

Clanging rang through the room. The clanging continued well after the struggle stopped until a panting approached the bar, shaky hands reaching for another drink. Antonio nodded and put the phone back to his ear. “Sorry. Nothing. I want nothing, only that you succeed. All I ask is that you follow my instructions so your numbers might swell.”

A grin lit up Flint's face. Not at what Antonio said, but for what he could hear in the background. 

”Getting your influence may be… interesting. I'd personally love to see how your influence messed with the military beyond the Wall. But more people is always good as well…”

There was the sound of quiet pondering as Flint stepped a little closer to his desk, hands pressed lightly on the wood.

”...I'm listening. What would these instructions be?”

Antonio leant into the phone as he poured the drunk Akula another drink. “Runners will deliver caches of alcohol to the sewers near your home. Present the population with bread and games, win some hearts and minds, let them drink my gift to their heart's content.” Antonio smiled. “For games, I suggest something… Gladiatorial. Find some real champions while recruiting everyday Nocturnia.”

Vines in the room began to drag the dead Akula through the floor, wiping blood away as they worked. Antonio leant against the bar again. “As for how my influence reached our jailors, drink a glass, and you’ll see yourself. It’ll also allow us to communicate in an entirely secure manner.”

There was a light snort on the other end of the line, ”I wasn't born yesterday, Mr. Litwin. If I drink it, there's no guarantee you won't use your influence on me.”

Flint's head tilted, though. Mr. Litwin said reached, as in past tense. Did he… no, did he in fact already have some of the outside military in his grasp?

Antonio laughed. “Is the great Weathersteel nervous of a little drink? Relax my friend. I’ve no use for dominating you when our goals align so neatly. Besides, to dominate someone like you, a man whose will was forged in steel, I’d have to drown you in the stuff. No Flint. I promise you will not be influenced by my presence. If you’re able to pass this test of trust, I will bestow a gift upon you that will allow you to see Nocturnia as if you were the city itself. I’m sure that will make the coming storm far easier to navigate, no?”

Antonio spun around to collect a rag and dry down the bar. “Don’t feel pressured though. You have my allegiance regardless of whether you decide to see me in the Noosea or not. I do suggest you not waste such an opportunity for paranoia's sake though.”

Flint's fingers gripped the edge of the desk as he thought, weighing the pros and cons. It was a good offer. And he was looking for ways to gain more dominance to further topple the empires in this city before he set his eyes fully on that Wall.

Besides, not much got through to his black heart. This would certainly change the tempo, the monotony. 

He nodded to himself, and stood, head tilting curiously, that grin back on his face. ”Very well, Mr. Litwin. I'll bite. Send the drinks. I'll try it for myself and spread it around my people. I look forward to a… prosperous venture.”

Antonio slapped the bar grinning ear to ear. “Happy to hear that Mr Weathersteel. We’ll be in contact again when you enjoy that drink. Until then, I’ll begin sourcing an accelerant to these plans. All the best to you Flint.”

The phone snapped shut. The bar gleaned clean again.

A very productive morning indeed.
[IC] Nocturnal Memoirs: An Urban-Fantasy Mafia Epic Page 3

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