Regalia - Safehouse - Quinn Gyles
Quinn took a breath as the room began to come to life with fresh bodies appearing from the elevator. He had been focusing on the exaggerated crunch of Vivian's everlasting food supply so much that he had begun to lose himself to random thought. As the elevator ding became more of a constant than it ever had been in the last few years, the enforcer started to remember that indeed the Regalia branch of the syndicate was larger than he'd remembered. It was nowhere near the main branch of course, but it was like the National Guard during a drill weekend; you never really kept track of how big your company was until you all showed up in the same location. Once the people began making themselves known, he slowly began to piece together the information he had made sure to compartmentalize upon their first meeting. Each soul was useful, that much he knew, but personal tidbits created by rusted connections years old resurfaced as he looked over each arriving member.
Devi was one of the financial managers of the Syndicate - because you could never have enough people to run your books - and she was damned good at it. This was partly due to the fact that she was not as in the life as the others, but also because she was just more intelligent than at least Quinn himself. Her ethnicity had been a point of contention back when she first joined, but that had been the product of an older regime and she quickly proved herself through her work ability. It also helped that she was a looker, but the sanctity of the enforcer's mentality thanked him for not saying that fact out loud - there was only so much one could take from a certain Asian and her ability to make fun of another. Vivian's god damn sarcasm was legendary after all.
Next through the ringing doors was Kimberly. Her flamboyance remained intact as she strolled through and Quinn was silently pleased that the day's events had not rattled her as much as he thought it would. Her confidence in herself, physically and mentally, was one thing, but confidence even after probably having bullets whizz by that frame was another. Speaking of frame, it was also nice to see
that intact as well. Kim was more of a real person than your hollywood movie model, but it was something at least Quinn could appreciate. Who could complain about a curvaceous woman after all? Like Devi, she was also very good at what she did so there was no reason to dislike her. The only thing was that Quinn had not seen or spoken to her in quite a while. There was a multitude of reasons for this, but most important was that his field and hers was one that did not need to cross often. He remembered that their conversations had been good in the past however, so he grinned a bit when her voice rang out.
The last person through was the resident hacker and the one member that Quinn had probably only ever seen in person once - exactly once. It was back when he first joined and even then he had never spoken to the man face to face. The computer and multiple forms of technological communication facilitated the robot voice Quinn knew to be Mamushi, but seeing him in person for only the second time almost unnerved him. Technology was not a strong point for the enforcer and he had always envied those who could do just about
anything on a computer. Quinn knew enough to check his email and navigate his phone, but that was the extent of software knowledge. It had always been easy to just get something done indirectly through Mamushi, but seeing him reminded him that this was a real person indeed - a real person who had almost been killed and was rightly complaining about it. A nervous smile flashed as Mamushi recounted how he escaped - and apparently killed - his would be assassins and his assertion that it had been
cool elicited a chuckle from the enforcer. He wondered if any of them knew that Vee was by far the better fighter and if they did not, there was no way he was going to admit it.
With everybody accounted for, Quinn almost spoke until Lex and a stranger walked in. At least, he was a stranger for one second until Quinn instantly pegged him - Jax. It was fucking
Jax. Lex made her way over to Vivian, but Jax went off to claim a lone corner and befriend a cigarette. He knew what this was. He knew that there was no way he was welcome here, but Quinn knew he had no choice but to be here. The fact that his presence was necessary only now made sense in Quinn's head. Of course he would be here after this kind of event. An eraser from the main branch and a man who used to be second-in-command over the entirety of the Syndicate would obviously come to see the branch that was being accused of betraying everyone and everything that Syndicate stood for. Deciding to ignore him for the moment, Quinn took a breath and leaned back in his seat. "Glad you all made it," He began before stealing a few chocolate pretzels and hurriedly crunching down on them. "I'll make this quick considering I haven't been around for a while." Quinn stood and lit his own cancer stick before pocketing a hand. He stepped out of the couch circle and strolled over began walking slowly, nowhere in particular.
"This day has been shit for you all, but let me sum it up for you. Apparently, the main branch believes that
we have been selling drugs despite the mandate not to. For what reason, I have no idea, but this is why you guys were each attacked today. You know the rules, once your break a rule like that, it's pretty much certain death. There will be no trial or any kind of chance given to prove our innocence. In fact, me and cookie monster over here even met a squad of main branch hitmen sent to ice us all personally. They're taking this matter pretty seriously, but... " Quinn trailed as the woman on the news spoke with a familiar picture next to her head. The TV had been quiet enough to be ignored all this time, but Quinn grabbed the remote and turned up the volume as his eyes widened and the cigarette dropped from his mouth.
"Again, for all of our viewers just tuning in, the body of John Malkovich Ariella was found early this morning in an alleyway near the famous Crest Club downtown. While he was a well known philanthropist and community supporter, Mr. Ariella was perhaps more well known as the man who founded, and headed, the infamous Ariella Syndicate - the organization law enforcement has been trying to incriminate for the last few decades. His body was found with two bullet wounds in his head. Law enforcement has not released any details or comment on the situation so we will update you as this story develops,"
Quinn stood in shock for moment before cursing. This day, or night rather, had just gotten many times worse.
