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Post by Shea on Mar 5, 2015 5:41:16 GMT
"To be honest, I don't think Viveka would want her life any other way. For a while, she played at being normal. But eventually she came back. Willingly," he added, a look crossing his face. He couldn't see himself functioning in the "real" world, but it was always bizarre for him to hear that some people chose this life even when they could have run from it.
He glanced to his side as he heard footsteps, and gave Markus a two-fingered wave as the blonde hunter stepped into the kitchen. Despite the layers the man wore, Matteo still saw the edges of hickies along his neck and collar. He swallowed down a scowl, hoping the smirk he worked up wasn't as bitter as it felt. "Good morning, sunshine. Late morning?" he snorted, eating the last of his orange as he stood.
Markus paid him no mind, eyes on the dark-haired man. "K and I found something last night. Want you to come take a look, if you could," he stated. His voice was more rough than normal.
Rolling his eyes, Matteo gave a mocking sigh. "I see. I'm no longer welcome. Ah well." He looked Broker over, and genuine grin on his lips. "It was a pleasure. It's so rare to find intelligent conversation around here anymore," he waved dismissively in Markus' direction. "Come find me if you've a mind, after this ape is done with you."
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Post by Lizzie on Mar 6, 2015 6:20:29 GMT
Broker raised a brow. He couldn't say he knew Matteo all that well but he knew enough about the subtle body language and facial expressions to know that this exchange wasn't QUITE a friendly one. He'd had to pick up and things like this all the time when he was out in the field to keep himself alive. Still, he said nothing about Matteo, and instead noted the hickies with a small laugh.
"well someone had fun. Your usual scowl looks more like a smile this morning."Broker stood, brushing off his shirt and he slipped his laptop into his bag along with some papers. "I don't mind coming to have a look. I'd charge you my usual fee." And he tossed Matteo a little grin. "But I think I'll excuse it for once. But we should hurry through it." He gave a little wave in Matteo's direction.
"The pleasure was mine, Matteo. I'll be sure to find you if this doesn't take too much of my time." he brushed his hair slightly to the side so he could see Markus a bit better. "alright, let's go take care of this. I have something for you and Viveka for around 4 if you're interested. We can discuss it after we've gone over the items you two are taking on lawn."
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Post by Shea on Mar 6, 2015 6:27:33 GMT
Markus quirked an eyebrow, the beginnings of a smirk pulling at the corners of his lips. "Actually... K and I were thinking about you dropping the price on one of the items we're borrowing. You see... what we found? It's something you possibly mentioned you'd pay US for if we discovered the likes while on our hunt."
He spread his hands in an innocent way, and Matteo had to bite the inside of his cheek. For all he loathed the other man, he certainly wasn't the brains behind this wobbly "team" for no reason. "But since you've been oh so very helpful... you drop the price, and it's yours. Of course, you're more than allowed to examine it first to make sure it's truly what you're after..." He tilted his head towards the doorway.
Sighing, Matteo waved at the two of them. "Off with you, then. I'll go find someone else to entertain me until you're done with your goddamn bartering. I'll go see if Jaime wants to spar, or something."
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Post by Lizzie on Mar 6, 2015 6:42:49 GMT
Giving a little laugh Broker shook his head. Honestly, Markus could have gotten one of the items he brought for free if he had something REALLY worth Broker's time. But, oh well. He raised a shoulder in a light shrug. "We'll see. You know a man can only be so generous at this hour." He followed Markus out of the room and through the doorway, but not before tossing another look back at the retreating Matteo. He was...interesting.
For now, though, on to business. Work first, then play time with the locals. "I'm interested to see what you have, however. Did you take all the procedures I told you to take the last time you had an artifact for me to look over? I don't want a repeat of that incident." He grinned playfully, knowing all too well that was a while ago and markus had, since, been a whole lot more careful...but he did like to tease him. Broker like the frustrated pinch of his brow and that defiant look in his eye he could get.
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Post by Shea on Mar 6, 2015 6:51:16 GMT
Markus glanced over his shoulder, but the glare softened into a look of amusement quickly. He'd long grown accustomed to the other's teasing, and while he'd never admit it, he trusted his wisdom. "Say what you will, but I remember you getting drunk and admitting the first time you went for an artifact you nearly blew yourself up and then had to dig your way out of cave-in."
He lead the man through the narrow hallways of the inn and down to the basement where K was waiting, the big woman leaning over the table. A closed box sat before her, and Connie was kneeling on the ground to be at eye-level with it. "Don't look like much," the dreaded medium murmured.
"That's because if it's not flora or fauna or smoke and mirrors, you don't give a shit about it," Markus replied easily. He stepped up to the table, and when Broker was close enough, he opened the lid slowly. "So down to business. I didn't want to say in front of Matteo, the imbecile, but... I do believe you'll be lending us the items we requested for free in exchange for this."
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Post by Lizzie on Mar 6, 2015 7:07:59 GMT
Broker laughed remembering the story fondly. "Oooh yes. And then the time after that I almost ended up with my soul sucked out. Ahh good times were had." The man looked at his friend with a warm smile. He didn't have many friends. Balancing two lives wasn't easy as it was but balancing a life where you kept close friends away from all of this was hard enough. He'd tried once and done well enough until he realized it wasn't going anywhere. It was good to have markus for a friend...
Or that was what he thought until he stepped down the steep steps to the floor of the basement. Free of charge. Slimy little shit. he should have known Markus was smarter than what he'd appeared outside. "Free? Well you better hope this is as good as you think it is..." His voice trailed off as the item was revealed more and more. His eyes went wide and he almost was tempted to hand his laptop to the hunter and give him the bloody codes.
It didn't look like much to the untrained eye. An aged spear tip, broken from what looked like ancient wood that had only slightly been sanded down before the poor unfortunate sod paid the price. The only thing that told it was anything but ancient trash was the oh so faint glow. He ran his finger across the side of it, careful of the tip and edges that were still impossibly sharp for something so old. "How in the 7 hells did you find this. Was this REALLY with a bunch of vampires?" He supposed it made sense. Some vampires could have used this to bleed a human for days, weeks, before they'd eventually expire.
The spear tip could make a wound bleed continuously for days, weeks even but it also had the ability to heal any wound if used correctly. Using it to heal wounds did have a cost unless someone had holy water and an ordained priest handy...which most supernatural didn't have either.Otherwise it's healing effects were only available if it had wounded someone. It, effectively, took the wound from one and transferred it to another. It could be quite the beastly thing for something so seemingly harmless.
"I'll need to test it to be certain....which means I'll need to be sure you have these items on hand." He grabbed a piece of paper from the desk behind him and stole a pen to quickly jot down a few things. "I'll need Connie to put these together and have them on hand if it actually works because, I don't much enjoy the idea of bleeding for days....but, if it works, you've got a deal my friend." He ended with a grin.
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Post by Shea on Mar 6, 2015 7:18:15 GMT
Markus waved dismissively at Broker. "The hell do you think Connie is here for?" He moved farther into the basement and pulled aside a curtain. Behind it was a bound and gagged, and badly burned, vampire. "This guy had it on him. Nearly tore my neck open with it. Didn't take long to put two and two together -- after all, what kinda blood sucker uses a shitty old weapon instead of his nice fangs, right?" Picking up a shot, he spun it between his fingers before he moved, lightning fast, to embed it into the monster's neck. The reaction was instant; a muffled shriek as his body convulsed.
Leaving the vampire to sob and shudder, Markus went back to the group. "Connie already got the items we need to try it. You've got an output for the wound. So? Let's get this over with. I've got way too many demons parading around with not a damn idea of how they're getting in." He rolled up his sleeve. "Come on. Cut me up before Bryant shows up and freaks. Last thing I need is him to learn I lied about you being the lab rat."
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Post by Lizzie on Mar 7, 2015 4:48:10 GMT
Broker raised a brow as markus stabbed the shrieking vamp in the neck with a needle full of deadman's blood. Best way to shut them up by far, he'd realized quite a while ago. Still he shook his head. Vampires with this would certainly be a problem. He supposed that's what made hunters like Markus and the rest so useful and so necessary in this world. It was just too damn bad none of them would ever get recognition for it. They didn't need nor want it but they deserved it. As much shit as he gave hunters and others gave them, they deserved more than just a pat on the back.
His brow knitted when Markus spoke about being the subject to test the spear head on. What the fuck was he thinking? That new boyfriend of his was going to ream him if he found out, he had half a mind to do so himself. As much as Broker liked to think of himself as important, if he needed proof he much rather be the one taking the damage. "You do know that boyfriend of yours will kill me if this goes badly? You really should just let me do this. If it goes badly, well, I'm sure that cute new thing you've got running around here could figure out how to get her hands on the things I have in storage for you guys...if you die. Well, half the brains in this operation will be out the door...not to mention your boyfriend going on a murderous rampage because, from what I hear, he's quite the temperamental man."
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Post by Shea on Mar 7, 2015 5:04:01 GMT
Markus had to stop himself from rolling his eyes, but he couldn't hold back the annoyed huff of breath. "So I hook up with someone, and suddenly I can't do my goddamn job because of what they'll think? Fuck that. Bryant knows the risks. He knows I'm human and that I'm going to eat dirt one day, and probably sooner than later."
Stepping around the table, he reached to grab the wrist of the hand that Broker was holding the spearhead with. "You die, or I die. There's never been a more successful collector of artifacts. Ever. Do you understand how important that makes you? There's always will some idiot that steps up to the plate and tries to lead a group of hunters. It's a fucking cycle, okay? We either disband because a good fucking chunk of us are used to and prefer working solo, or we draw enough attention to have a swarm wipe us out. I'm the replaceable one, not you. So come the fuck on."
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Post by Lizzie on Mar 7, 2015 5:18:26 GMT
Letting out a sigh he shrugged. "Fine. If you insist but you're dealing with that boy after." He didn't care how old they said bryant was. He still acted like a boy going through his rebelious teen stage. But, hey, guess he was man enough around markus.
Pushing the thought of him from his mind, he grabbed Markus' arm, looked him in the eyes and sliced across bruised skin. The way the blood seeped from the wound, at first, was normal for a wound there but then it started to slowly pour from the cut unbelievable rate. Well, look like it was real after all. Very real. Fuck. He looked at connie expectantly, not bothering to tourniquet the wound or apply pressure. it wouldn't stop. "Next time you call yourself replaceable, I'll punch you in your grumpy mug, understand." He huffed, watching as the blood spilled from his arm and into a basin.
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Post by Shea on Mar 7, 2015 5:50:50 GMT
Markus met the challenge in Broker's eyes, and gave him an easy grin. When the man opened the skin on his forearm, he hissed as the sting, but a frown tugged at his lips as the blood welled. That couldn't be right. His heart started to sink, thinking it was a fake, when the wound suddenly started seeping more and more blood. He watched, fascinated and even slightly afraid, as his life continued to poor from his arm.
He gripped the edge of the table, forcing suddenly weak knees to hold himself up. He could vaguely hear Connie in the background chanting through the roaring in his ears. Maybe Connie wouldn't finish in time. Maybe he wouldn't be able to cheat Death, and his due would finally be paid.
Only barely aware when the sound of blood stopped pouring, it was the cloth Connie pressed to his arm that brought him back to himself. "Well?" he croaked, dizzy beyond belief. He held the gauze over the wound, and let himself collapse. "Hurry the fuck up. I'm going to black out."
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Post by Lizzie on Mar 7, 2015 6:51:30 GMT
Broker watched as Connie worked. There wasn't much he COULD do. Well, if it looked like Markus was going to bite the bullet, so to speak, he would have resulted to something that might have pissed the hunter off. Of course, he could have explained it away as testing out it's other uses...but thankfully Connie was very proficient at her job. He couldn't have had anyone better or trusted anyone more capable with his life. Broker did what he could to assist, without getting in the way. of course, he helped in cleansing markus' blood from the blade. That was the first step. Then he tightly locked it away to prevent any other incidents in the process.
He wasn't one to be clumsy but you never knew with this group. The worst always did seem to happen at the worst times. When the blood stopped, it wasn't in time to prevent the reckoning he should have very well expected. The door swung open and the shirtless dark haired hunter, marred with scars and tattoos with jeans that seemed to just barely hang onto his hips narrowed his eyes at the lot of them. The worst of his ire was saved for the weak Markus, being held up by Kay and a bandage being applied to his arm by the ever attentive Connie.
"WHAT THE FUCK MARKUS???!! You said he was going to do that! Are you fucking insane?" The last words seemed to be almost spat through clenched teeth and a growl that ripped from the man's chest was enough to make broker stand up straight and alert encase it was his throat the angry hunter might decide to rip open. There was a worry in his eyes and even Broker could see it there. "Do you have a fucking death wish or something?" He cursed through his teeth and scooped markus up as soon as he was sure that Connie was truly done.
Broker, in the mean time, stayed clear of him, standing out of the way and not saying a word. It was Markus' place to speak for himself, after all, he'd made his position on being the subject of the test quite clear. Maybe Bryant would be reasonable but he couldn't be certain of that. He had his own opinions of the hunter but he could recognize true concern from anywhere and he'd seen it in Bryant's eyes.
When the door slammed shut, he expected it had been kicked shut, the broker turned to his female companions and chuckled. "Well...that was eventful. Should we discuss the items while Markus tends to other matters?" He asked with a note of humor in his voice that masked his own concern for his friend.
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Post by Shea on Mar 8, 2015 3:26:57 GMT
Markus cursed under his breath when the door swung open. His boyfriend's shape swam in his vision, each shouted word like a knife to the ear. And the stomach. He hated upsetting the other man, but he also wasn't going to change how he'd been living his life for him, either. He wasn't going to sit and hide behind locked doors. "Knew you wouldn't let me. Had to be me," Markus mumbled, and he felt Connie and K let him fall into Bryant's arms. He knew he'd hear more shouting when he woke up, and he'd have to deal with the full force of his anger, but right then he felt safe. And he let himself embrace the darkness swimming at the edges of his vision.
Connie sighed as the two left, worrying her lower lip between her teeth. "He's gonna need a blood transfusion. Lost too much," she muttered. Standing up, she brushed her long skirts off. "You two can handle the rest of this, right? Ain't sure where Sierra's at, so looks like I'm gonna be the one to make sure Markus wakes up." She pinched K's ass as she left, nodding to Broker, and nearly toppled back down the stairs when the door flung open again.
"Oy!" She cried, but a hand on her bicep steadied her.
Matteo grinned sheepishly, making sure the woman wasn't going to to fall before he let her go. "Sorry, Momma. Didn't realize you were leaving." Peering into the darkness, taking in the shuddering vampire, the artifacts laid out on the table, and the bowl literally filled with blood, he whistled. "Came to investigate all the screaming," he explained. And then asked, "We havin' a party?"
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Post by Lizzie on Mar 8, 2015 3:51:39 GMT
Broker cringed a little, imagining what must be going on upstairs. Bryant seemed like the type to vent his frustrations even while Markus was sleeping, no care if it was talking to a proverbial wall. His attention was turned to the two women and the little hitch in K's body as Connie grabbed her ass. The woman smirked as Connie moved to head up the stairs. It was cute, he thought anyway.
"You tell me if that boy gets testy, yeah?" She asked, her voice thick with a Russian accent. He couldn't imagine anyone risking K's wrath let alone CONNIE'S by testing her patience. He had tried once upon a time when he was still young and foolish.
When the door swung open he had been pulling his coat off, preparing to toss it over the back of a chair. Interrogation was not so much his style, but it didn't mean he couldn't do it if prompted. He had to laugh as Matteo walked in. "The party is only starting if you'd like to join. I'm sure two is better than one." He pulled a rolled up canvas out of his bag and slowly untied the strings that kept it bound. "Now my friend. How about you save us all a whole lot of cleaning up and just tell us where you got that rather interesting spear head." He jerked one flap of the canvas and it swiftly rolled open revealing an assortment of tool, none of which looked fun to have used on anyone.
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Post by Shea on Mar 8, 2015 3:59:10 GMT
Matteo's eyebrows raised, bu then they lowered as an almost feral grin spread his lips. "Ohoo, torture, huh? Definitely a party. You can count my happy ass in." Making his way down the stairs, he heard Connie shut the door behind her as she left. He'd seen Bryant carrying an unconscious Markus up to their room. He'd ask (maybe he'd even get an answer without Markus there), but later.
He grin and almost lovingly ran his fingers over the tools spread out on the canvas. It was a lovely collection, even better than his own. Glancing up at Broker, he teasingly asked, "You be good cop, I be bad cop?" But then he lowered his voice, tone more series. "Gonna have to fill me in a little. What do we need to find out?"
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