Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]

Forum Chat and Announcements

Niwa's Recent News
  • 19 April 2015 -- Niwa is under new management!

    Niwa is now under new management as we strive to stand up the the standards of fun and entertaining roleplaying we have so far provided here at Niwa. Today makes the start of a campaign to bring in new members as Head Admin Akaiken and Support Admin Sparky work together to improve and uphold the current face of Niwa and keep us all moving forward!

They said this was a city for our kind, they said it was a safe haven from the rest of the world. This was suppose to be the city where we where safe from regular humans. But, in a city where Meta-Humans run rampant, is there such thing as safety? When taking what you want is as simple as waving your hand, or closing your eyes, how can there be law? In this city, the truth is there is only one source of law, and that are the different criminal organizations that have formed all around us. The only order is that of the darkest part of humanity, of criminal organizations where the strong thrive while the weak gasp for air. This is Niwa Nights.. This is our home.

Can you survive it?

REGISTER NOW!

Username:   Password:
Agreement With A Legend; Zane and Gavin
Topic Started: Feb 2 2014, 10:37 PM (891 Views)
Impulse
Zane stood in the middle of the construction site, resting against a pile of rubble. The pyromancer slid his hands in his pockets as he waited for the man he was going to meet with. Gavin. The man was a living legend. Leader of the Vanguard, fighting with his own personal justice. If there was any man in Niwa that Zane looked up to, it was Gavin. He had never met him personally, but what he heard from Maho impressed him greatly. He would never be able to thank her enough for setting up this meeting.

Zane would never admit it to himself, but he was nervous. He was about to reveal his plan to Gavin, and feared that Gavin might laugh in his face when he heard what it was. After all, who was Zane to start an underground casino? Dressed as he was, in his leather vest and torn punk-looking jeans, he didn't exactly look like someone with enough resources. But despite his appearance, Zane was in fact quite wealthy from inheritance his parents had left him when they died. He had more than enough money to open a casino and spread the word to criminals and the gangs.

So why did he need Gavin's help? Why would the Vanguard be interested? Well, the casino itself would only be a front for information gathering. Zane was planning on bugging every inch and corner of the casino, recording everything that went on. Nothing would be said or done without him knowing about it. If anything is certain with criminals, it's the fact that they talk. Especially when talking to other criminals, and under the influence of alcohol. Zane would forward every single piece of information to the Vanguard. He would also give them a large portion of the casino's earnings. In exchange he'd only ask for a few able-bodied men to act as security guards and bouncers. After all, if he hoped to keep the place neutral, he'd need manpower to be able to enforce that.

He looked around to make sure no one was around. The construction site had been abandoned for a long time, but there might be squatters or homeless people wandering about. He couldn't risk anyone seeing him with Gavin, as it would blow his cover when the casino is open for business. He wasn't too worried though. He didn't plan on making many public appearances in the casino, and when he did he certainly wouldn't be dressed the was he was now. He saw no one around, which was a relief. While he waited for Gavin to arrive he slid a cigarette in his mouth, lighting it and taking a drag.
Member Avatar

Zane/Blaze Theme
Dean/Impulse Theme
Jack/Blackjack Theme

Current threads:

Zane:
The Vast Sea
A Dangerous Mistake
A to Z
Magical Encounter

Impulse:
Enter: Impulse!
The Sacrificial Lamb

Jack:
Tricks of the Trade
Be Still
Magical Encounter
Don't Feed The Animals
The Magician and the Spy
Quote Top Offline Profile
Cowboy
Why did everyone always want to meet at the construction site?

Fortunately it wasn't far from the condo penthouse the Titan called home; a running leap off the balcony and he was hurtling through the air like a rather large cannon ball. Being able to leap the length of a football field in a single bound made getting around the city a breeze; and this way, he'd never skip another leg-day again. Freefall from the condo had him landing on a shorter building half a block away, onto a big metal plate he'd had put in to avoid damaging the building itself. From that distance, with that force, on top of his weight being near half a metric ton, without the right support he'd eventually go right through the building's roof.
Superhero problems and all.

It was only a few moments until he'd arrived at the Havenberg site. The capacity to move at jump-speeds and disobey traffic laws got him around the city faster than most cars. So why was he leaping from rooftops like a crazy person? Maho. Tiny little Maho had phoned him to meet with a friend of hers about a business proposition. A silent supporter of the Vanguard. Well, you know what they say. Any friend of the Vanguard is a friend of Gavin's. Or something.

It was mid-drag on Zane's cigarette when the Titan smashed down into the ground some feet away. Thankfully the site was a graveyard of erected steel and concrete rubble, so it was a giant playground for someone like Gavin. Back when he was testing his new strength limits, he and Liam had come both here and the scrapyard to see how much metal Gavin could bend, or how thick a concrete wall he could punch through. Normal superhuman strength stuff; the more they knew about his limits, the better.

Younger male, red hair... punk-rocker looking type. Interesting. But capable. The knuckles on the hand holding the cigarette were bruised, calloused. Right hand dominant. Hardened. He'd been through something, somewhere, sometime.... but he wasn't entirely gone.

"I'll take it you're Kazama. I'm Mercer. Maho said you wanted to see me about something?"

He was wearing a button-down done up to the last button (not including), a bold, red tie, and some slacks. If it weren't for the callouses and bruises, the split lip or fading shiner under his eye, you'd think he was a business rep instead of a vigilante leader.
That and he was an absolute monster. Standing at a clear seven feet tall and built like a refrigerator, there was no mistaking just who he was, even in the dim light permeating through the skeleton of the construction site.
The Leader of the Vanguard had arrived.
Member Avatar

Quote Top Offline Profile
Impulse
As Gavin appeared from the air, slamming into the ground a few feet away from Zane, he couldn't help but be surprised. So surprised his eyes widened, and he took a step back. There was only one word to describe the man in front of him: Titan. What Zane had heard about Gavin Mercer couldn't begin to compare with the real article. Zane killed his cigarette and tossed it away, even though it was nearly whole. He didn't want to smoke while talking business.

Seeing the way Gavin was dressed made Zane feel underdressed. He mentally slapped himself for not wearing a suit or something. Still, he wasn't here to impress Gavin with his attire. He was here to ask for his help, and offer him some in return. He knew he needed to make a good first impression for Gavin to keep listening. There was a huge pressure on the first words that would escape his lips. He nodded at Gavin's question.

"Yes, I'm Zane. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me. I'm sure you're a very busy man and I appreciate every minute of your time."

He didn't want to sound like a suck-up, but he really wanted Gavin to like him. Zane had admired the Vanguard for years, and now he was in a rare position. He actually had something to offer his heroes. Hell, the heroes of the city. Sure, the N.C.P.D. did their best, but when it came to justice, Zane trusted the Vanguard more.

"I have recently purchased an exceptionally large warehouse and completely revamped the inside into an underground casino. The outside looks completely abandoned, but if you enter, it looks magnificent. I dare say it rivals the best casinos the Yakuza run. My hope is that criminals and gang members alike will take a liking to it and frequently visit. The entire place is bugged with hidden cameras and microphones. Nothing can escape me within those walls, which means it's an excellent place to gather inside information on the gangs.

I want to work with the Vanguard. Every piece of useful information I find out I will share with your people. I also stand to make quite a bit of money from the casino, and I plan on donating a large share of my profit with the Vanguard. In return I was hoping you could do me a favor. I need to maintain the illusion that the casino is a neutral place open to all, and to do so I must make sure there won't be any fighting there. If you could employ a few of your men as security guards and bouncers at my casino, it would make things a lot easier for me. Although, they would have to be men not publicly known by the gangs, as that would blow the cover."


Zane felt he had said enough for now, so he stopped talking. He paid close attention to Gavin's expression, trying to get a read on the hulk to know what was going through his mind. Would he think it a good idea, or would he shoot it down immediately. Zane almost held his breath in anticipation as he waited for Mercer to start talking.
Member Avatar

Zane/Blaze Theme
Dean/Impulse Theme
Jack/Blackjack Theme

Current threads:

Zane:
The Vast Sea
A Dangerous Mistake
A to Z
Magical Encounter

Impulse:
Enter: Impulse!
The Sacrificial Lamb

Jack:
Tricks of the Trade
Be Still
Magical Encounter
Don't Feed The Animals
The Magician and the Spy
Quote Top Offline Profile
Cowboy
Hmm.

Zane was nervous. Well, not so much nervous, just uncomfortable. Uneasy. It was understandable. Business meetings add a layer of unease, meeting someone new and asking for a favor, more so; but when you're meeting someone who spends the majority of his evenings beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands? Well, you get the idea.

Given that the Titan used to live/squat in a large, abandoned warehouse down on the Lower-East Side, he could imagine what kind of vibe Zane was going for. Unsuspecting, unassuming; a place that people wouldn't think twice of for hosting a high volume of traffic. Something that hosted thick enough walls to keep noise from the interior from escaping into the night or drawing attention. Something scuttleable.
It was a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it would mean the Vanguard was participating in illegal ventures; the same kind they were trying to stop.
Granted...illegal gambling was a far cry from human or drug trafficking. Blackjack was pretty far removed from kidnapping or extortion.

Not to mention, vigilantism was a crime in itself, wasn't it?

Another revenue stream for the Vanguard could only help. It was two-pronged. Every dime spent in Zane's casino would be a dime not headed for the Yakuza's casinos. Not only would it (theoretically) take business away from the biggest gang in the city, but it would help bolster the efforts of the volunteers trying to make this city better. More money meant better equipment. Better pay. Stable incomes for the people who dropped everything else to make The Vanguard their sole obsession. More money could set up shelters and soup-kitchens. Buy protective vests and rubber bullets.

There didn't seem to be much of a downside to this proposition; granted, there had been seven seconds of silence hanging in the air since Zane had finished speaking, the Titan with his arms folded over his chest, lips pursed to one side, eyes roving over the rubble nearby; thinking about it all, weighing options, thinking about potential pitfalls. It was like playing chess; as the groups tactician he had to play several moves ahead. Had to see where the ripples in the pond hit the shore before he even cast a stone.

Nine seconds.

The Titan exhaled slowly, rubbing his chin with his hand. He hadn't shaved yet that day. It was starting to show.

"Well it seems you've thought this through pretty well. With our connections to CRASH and the NCPD we can steer the Law off on a pretty wide berth as long as nothing major happens at the establishment. Any bit of yen you could spare for the cause would be better than no money at all. Intel gathering from drunken gamblers is always a win/win. The Vanguard can definitely provide protection detail. Especially if you're paying well. " He had a habit of talking with his hands. But he didn't look Italian...
"Nearly all the Vanguard members fly under the radar, don't make their support known. Finding bodies that can operate on the sly should be simple enough. We've got a strong roster of soldiers with menial day-jobs I'm sure they wouldn't mind trading up for a more stable night-time gig."

Work the late shift at the local convenience store, or work security at a casino? Eh, some people shouldn't have to be convinced.

"When are you planning on starting this up?"
Member Avatar

Quote Top Offline Profile
Impulse
Zane couldn't be happier. Not only had Gavin agreed to all his requests, but he'd sweetened the deal with something Zane hadn't even thought about. With his connections Gavin would be able to keep the police focused on other things, making it that much easier for him to hide his casino. His respect for Gavin grew. Before coming here he had no idea what to expect from the titan other than a monstrous man with incredible fighting skills, but Mercer seemed like a lot more than just that. He was a rational thinker, capable of looking past the fact that gambling is illegal because it helps him out in the bigger picture. It was the ideal resolve for him to have in regards to Zane.

Money always spoke. Such was the case here as well. Gavin's men would obey Zane as long as he paid them well. Of course he would. He knew that they were risking a lot by working for him in a seemingly neutral casino, so he was more than happy to compensate them generously. He'd have to choose someone to be head of security. Maybe he'd take that position himself, or find someone he could really trust. Ando? Maybe. It was too soon to know if he was trustworthy enough. He'd start of as a normal bouncer.

"I certainly will pay your men handsomely for the work they'll do for me, you don't have to worry about that. I just hope that them working at my casino doesn't tear them away from important previous engagements."

The tension that had been building inside Zane's body as Gavin spoke was slowly disappearing, and he managed to relax somewhat. The meeting was going exceptionally well. He only wished that they were at an office or something so he could offer Gavin a celebratory drink. It could wait for a better time. This probably wouldn't be the last time the two met. Gavin asked when Zane was thinking about opening the casino.

"There are still a few things I have to iron out. Now that I have you on board that speeds things up for me though, so it really shouldn't be long. Rumors started by me are being whispered between street thugs and low-ranking gang members about my casino, so that's automatic advertisement there. If everything goes well I should be open in less than two weeks."
Member Avatar

Zane/Blaze Theme
Dean/Impulse Theme
Jack/Blackjack Theme

Current threads:

Zane:
The Vast Sea
A Dangerous Mistake
A to Z
Magical Encounter

Impulse:
Enter: Impulse!
The Sacrificial Lamb

Jack:
Tricks of the Trade
Be Still
Magical Encounter
Don't Feed The Animals
The Magician and the Spy
Quote Top Offline Profile
Cowboy
"Two weeks, eh?"

Hmm. That should be more than enough time to send out some vibes to The Vanguard members and associates to get some interested people. Enough time to speak with Soph and Peter about the casino and get them on board; maybe use it as a joint collective for intelligence. Commune with Cicely about setting up a team to help manage and sift through the stream of information they might possibly receive.
Honestly, it seemed like a huge get for The Vanguard, and potentially the city. It was a step in the right direction; even if it involved illegal activity.

Sometimes you've gotta get your hands dirty to clean up.

"Well I'm on board with this, Kazama. If there's anything I can do to assist you in the start-up, let me know. We've got plenty of able-bodied people that could help with the set-up. I just gotta ask..." What? It was a worthwhile question.
"What's your end-game here? What's in it for you? I mean, you're not a member of our organization, your only affiliation was through Maho, now myself, but to just give the group money, to put yourself at risk to provide us intelligence... seems like a big risk for a little reward; at least on your part. Loss of money, increased danger."

Well, it seemed fair enough. Could Zane really be so selfless? There were very few people in the city who would look at money and give it away like that. Was he just an anonymous believer in what The Vanguard was doing, or was this his way into the group? He'd have Liam do a little more digging when he got back to base, but until then maybe hearing it straight from the horses mouth would suffice.

It just seemed too good to be true...
Member Avatar

Quote Top Offline Profile
Impulse
Gavin Mercer was on board and willing to start helping right away. Hearing those words confirmed in Zane's mind that the casino was a good idea. But of course Mercer wanted to know why Zane was doing all of this.

Zane had expected this. Gavin was right in asking him what was in it for him. He'd be foolish not to. Zane realized that he wasn't exactly like other people. Most people were greedy and selfish, and this was especially true in Niwa. So who was he to step up, take most of the risk and share the profit? He scratched the one day stubble on his cheek, wondering how much he could tell Mercer without it coming of as a tragic backstory. He didn't want pity, and he was sure that no matter how bad his life had been, Gavin's had probably been worse. You don't become the leader of the Vanguard without having lost something in the past. Zane figured he could trust Gavin, so he decided to just tell him the truth.

"When I was 6 years old my parents were gunned down in front of me by an assassin working for the Triads. He shot me too but I survived, mostly with luck. Right before he shot my father he said that he'd been sent by Uncle Rat. Now at the time I had no idea who that was, but I made it my life's mission to track him down and kill him.

I've recently found out that Uncle Rat is dead. But living in Niwa has made me realize just how many people are suffering the way I did. So just because I failed in my personal vendetta, that doesn't mean that I can just stop fighting the fight. I didn't get to kill my parent's murderer, but I'll be damned if I'm going to let anyone else lose someone they care about because of the gangs. I believe that if you have the power or resources to help, it's your duty to do so."


He wasn't trying to sound brave or generous or patriotic or anything. He was just being honest. Not a day went by where he didn't see an innocent person on the streets suffering, and not a day went by that he didn't hate that very fact. It was time to do something big, and step into the fight personally. He wasn't sure what Mercer would think of his resolve and reasons, but he hoped that he would understand. He himself had done so much to try and help the city, so he had to understand why Zane would want to do so as well.
Member Avatar

Zane/Blaze Theme
Dean/Impulse Theme
Jack/Blackjack Theme

Current threads:

Zane:
The Vast Sea
A Dangerous Mistake
A to Z
Magical Encounter

Impulse:
Enter: Impulse!
The Sacrificial Lamb

Jack:
Tricks of the Trade
Be Still
Magical Encounter
Don't Feed The Animals
The Magician and the Spy
Quote Top Offline Profile
Cowboy
"Mmm."

Well wasn't that the point? The mission statement? The plaque above the door?
Everyone had dealt with their own atrocities in this life. Everyone had their own demons and their own pitfalls. Everyone experienced loss, sacrifice, pain. It was the people who took it, used that as fuel that Gavin was after. It was those people that helped him save the city, one block at a time.

It was Mercer who burst in on the Yakuza and framed the Triads for the hit during the Sky Lounge Shootout. But to have your parents die? It was an atrocity even Gavin had not experienced. He'd lost friends, loved ones, his home, but he still had them; it was something he couldn't compare to.
If you can do good things for other people,
You have a moral obligation to do those things.
That's what's at stake. Not choice. It's responsibility.

Zane wanted to help because he was able to help. He wanted to make sure others didn't experience the pain that he'd been through.
Good enough for Gavin.

"Well if that's how you feel..."

The Titan of a man walked closer to Kazama. It was comparable to seeing a small truck roll slowly in your direction. It was more than just height and a powerful gym regiment. Mercer truly was larger than he used to be. Larger than normal people. His hands more like a catchers mitt, a bushel of bananas, than someone's normal hand. That was his meta. To be unstoppable and towering. It wasn't flashy, it wasn't pretty, but it was pretty damned effective. If not slightly off-putting when meeting new people. When he got close enough to Zane, he extended his hand; half wrapped in various bandages; fresh from that morning, maybe, with bits of dark red dried splotting through the off-white across his knuckles, over his wrists.
If nothing else, no one could ever say he wasn't a hands-on-leader.

"Welcome to The Vanguard, Zane Kazama."
Member Avatar

Quote Top Offline Profile
Impulse
Zane felt exposed. He had just revealed to the man why he did what he did. That he'd lost his parents when he was young. He never spoke about his parents to anyone, but he had been unable to keep it from Mercer. It was like he had this urge to obey him. It wasn't too strange though. Zane was a young man still finding his place, and Mercer was older, stronger and wiser. It was no surprise that Zane looked up to him, almost to the point of idolization.

The Vanguard leader didn't show much facial expression changes as Zane spoke. He had Mercer's attention, but it didn't look like his words had any effect. It made him think that he'd never want to play poker with him, since he was this good at hiding his emotions. Or maybe he'd just heard the story so many times it barely effected him anymore. Zane was certain he wasn't the only one in Niwa to lose his parents.

As Gavin walked closer to Zane, he could feel his muscles tense up slightly. He was sure that Gavin wasn't going to hurt him, but seeing a hulk like that walking closer to you is still intimidating. He was glad that Mercer was on his side, because he was the last person Zane would want to face in battle, and the first person he'd want on his side.

Gavin welcomed him to the Vanguard with an extended hand. Zane's eyes widened slightly as he stared at the oven mitt of a hand hovering in front of him. He'd just become a member of the Vanguard. It was more than he could ever ask for. Of course he would have to keep it a secret with everyone, except for Maho. She'd be the first to know. Without hesitation Zane grabbed Mercer's hand and shook it, a smile appearing on his face.

"Thank you. I'm honored that you'd want me on board, and I promise I won't let you down. You can count on me."

He let go of the titan's hand, proud of himself. The meeting had gone so much better than he could ever have expected. He'd have to thank Maho for setting up the meeting. Take her out on an actual date this time.
Member Avatar

Zane/Blaze Theme
Dean/Impulse Theme
Jack/Blackjack Theme

Current threads:

Zane:
The Vast Sea
A Dangerous Mistake
A to Z
Magical Encounter

Impulse:
Enter: Impulse!
The Sacrificial Lamb

Jack:
Tricks of the Trade
Be Still
Magical Encounter
Don't Feed The Animals
The Magician and the Spy
Quote Top Offline Profile
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Fully Featured & Customizable Free Forums
« Previous Topic · Roleplay Archives · Next Topic »

Our Affiliates RPG-D SEKKAI FRACTURES Obsidian Butterfly - An Anita Blake/Merry Gentry RPG HI-HOU RP Cirque de la Lune 間案 TIME TABLES