Lanny Zelkovii

He'd spent a fair share of his time in the near vicinity of the bathroom that night, after a sloshing-full stomach finally protested to the copious amounts of beer and Black Velvet mixed in to it. The next morning, Advil and a giant bottle of water became his best friend as he nursed his throbbing head and queasy stomach from the binge last night, and slept off most of his hangover.

Even by noon, he was feeling far from the best, but was at least able to get up without feeling as though his head were about to split open, or that his stomach was going to do flips. While James and Sheryl slept in, he'd dialed Cassidy's number and asked her to meet him back at the Café for a talk about gang business. And, by a few minutes past twelve, that's where he was, seated at a booth towards the back of the diner, with a large glass of ice water in front of him.

Cassidy

Now that she knew the young man would be basically sober and more able to detect any falters in her words, Cassidy had carefully composed herself, and dressed conservatively this morning. A relatively modest, sleeveless black top headed off this morning's ensemble, complete with a decorative neckline of jet beads, over a pair of loose black slacks and black high heels. These were chosen in mind not only because they were the closest to conservative that she owned, but because they were dark, and would be easy to look at for Lanny's hangover-sore eyes. She'd straightened her hair this morning, so now she looked like her every day self as she made her way into the cafe.

After their long discussion last night, which had drawn on into the wee hours, Johann had taken back his silver truck, and Cass had driven the Bronco home. She returned in it this morning, so that she could return the vehicle to Lanny. Stepping carefully on the somewhat uneven concrete, Cassidy offered Lanny her smile as she sat down at the table. As if to complement the young man's non-alcoholic choice, the crimson-haired lady ordered an unsweet iced tea and quipped brightly, "Good morning, sunshine. Or afternoon, rather," in a teasing way. Whatever deeper emotion she'd displayed last night was gone, tucked back neatly into herself where it was safe from outside eyes.

Lanny Zelkovii

The dark attire was certainly a grand relief to his struggling eyes, still a touch bloodshot and not quite their handsome blue glow yet. Perking a grin, he gave a slow nod and a chuckle to her jest, "I'm not sure 'good' rightly describes it. Tolerable, maybe." Lanny took a small sip of water, not wanting to test his angry stomach with anything more than that for at least another good hour, "Hey, I just wanted to say... thanks, for last night. Again." It wasn't the first time he'd been dragged back home, and it surely wouldn't be the last, but the teen realized how much of a burden he was putting on everyone in his drunken attempts to escape his emotional pain.

To avoid getting distracted into another conversation, Lanny rubbed absently at the side of his eye for a moment before shifting gears and turning to the reason he'd called her out here in the first place, "And, about last night - I've been thinking a lot about their murders. I know James is being cautious about this revenge and how to deal with the Akatsuki, but I just can't wait any longer for him heal up and get things started. We have to strike now, and let them know who runs this town."

Cassidy

Keeping to the unspoken rule of not getting too serious on the topic of last night, Cassidy tossed her head a bit, sending her hair back behind her shoulder and bringing a casual smile to her face. "Well somebody had to come get you before you made a complete fool of yourself. I was just handy. And I'll bet your brother was banking on you not roughing me up for my trouble, either." She said this in the most casual way, which only revealed that she knew that neither James nor Lanny would lay hands on a girl in a violent fashion, and not indicating anything about that deeper bond that might have given him better reason not to hurt her.

But as he led the discussion on, she followed, and answered flippantly, "I attempted to express that to him when they were bold enough to shoot me right out in the open, but he didn't seem keen on the idea. They've gotten too cocky."

Lanny Zelkovii

Another grin lifted at her initial words, to which he nodded to agree with, "After I gave poor Daniel a black eye... yeah, I see why he sent you instead." He didn't even remember getting into a scrap with the hapless teen sent out to pick him up two weeks again in one of his usual late-night depressions, though he certainly felt badly about it when he eventually found out what he'd done.

Lightness aside, his features hardened in declaration of his serious intent, ">b?They're too cocky, and he's too reserved. I understand where he's coming from in wanting to gage the enemy closer and all that jazz, but there comes a time when you just gotta go out there and fight, you know? We've got the resources to weapons to take them out, and I know for a fact that there's another gang or group of people after them - I mean, just a few months back, their house was shot up by some serious weapons." This was in reference to one of ATHA's hits against home, which ended in the entire gang being drugged in order to retrieve one of their kidnapped allies. "He's hoping that they and the mystery gang will take each other out, but I'm not going to wait that long. So here's what I'm asking... will you and Johann help me? I've already talked Brian and Dan into it, and we've got a few guineas to help as well."

Cassidy

She gave no indication that she already knew about the attack on the Akatsuki, and indeed the purpose of that mission and who the 'mystery gang' was, for though little in this town escaped her attention, that was not one of the details that she readily shared with anyone, particularly the heads of her gang. So she merely allowed him to fill her in, and then answered, "And plus that doesn't allow us the opportunity to honor the dead. Bloody deeds are best repaid with bloody hands." She quoted an old proverb there, and then finished listening to his proposal. Of course, she was normally the cautious kind and not one to slip so quickly into things, but the open pain he'd displayed last night had gotten to her more than she revealed, and that tipped the balance in his direction. It was a heartbeat or two before she replied, "Struck and set. A bargain." And he knew, as well as anyone else, that her word served just as well for Johann's word, who would always follow behind the girl in whatever venture she chose.

With that decided, she asked, "So under what guise are we attacking this time? Do you have a strategy planned out yet?"

Lanny Zelkovii

When she hit upon the main reason he wanted this assault, his eyes flashed up and nodded solemnly. Revenge. "They'll be honored, and their murderers begging for mercy." Violent darkness set in the recesses of his solid gaze, showing the ugly side of the teen that was born only in the most desperate situations. Two people he cared very much for had been slain for no apparent reason, killed without rhyme or reason, and he was going to avenge them... and then some.

"Ah... well, I haven't quite got to that part yet." Lanny admitted with a twinge of sheepishness, "I was hoping either you or Brian would have something. Or there's that Arab we could always use to help us spy on him. Or heck, that computer geek, Longstead - either of them would be helpful in getting information for us on when best to attack and where."

Cassidy

She saw the darkness at the back of his eyes, saw it eating at his insides like a voracious animal, and recognized it as a pain that she harbored herself, and was all too familiar with. She just had a slightly larger capacity for taking it than Lanny seemed to. So she understood his need for the revenge, and took it as her reason for going along with this scheme.

But when he began to speak as to how to go about it, Cassidy quickly shook her head. "Don't bother with Longstead. Anything he can find out about them, Johann can do, and without an outsider being involved. The Arab's got potential, yes... but best to let Johann deal with the computers. He can't got among the Akatsuki safely, because they'd seen him fighting with me, but he can do reasearch on whatever data our other friend comes up with. Let him take care of the odds and ends."

Lanny Zelkovii

Longstead would have been immensely relieved to hear that he was out of this deal. Being bullied on numerous occasions by a drunk Lanny, and once by a hot-tempered Sasuke, the tech savy kid had had more than his fair share of gang involvement.

"Sounds good, sounds good." Lanny murmured, letting the plan slowly be evolved and worked out. "I was thinking the other day, we could set up some sort of a diversion. Like, wait until one of their guys is alone, and have a group of us capture him while another group assaults their house." The young man leaned back against the booth, looking thoughtfully and a bit mischeviously at the same time, "Officer Sohmers has some interesting critters in his basement. More than a handful that are poisonous snakes; personally, I think it'd be fun to do a quick raid and get some of those snakes, and let them loose on the Akatsuki house. In the least, they might take out a dog or two, and give them something to fuss over."

Cassidy

Putting minute details together into a whole was Cassidy's specialty, and so she was quickly working the framework out. "Getting the snakes should be fairly simple... he's been out on assignment every night this week. Apparently some sort of ongoing investigation. His squad car passes the apartments at about sunset every evening, on my side of the building. I can see it through the window. And it doesn't pass again til the sun goes up the next morning, a few hours after sunrise. So getting the snakes should be a snap between those hours."

With that aspect taken care of, she continued, "So you're looking for a fear campaign. Get 'em so worked up 'til they're shootin' at their own shadows, and then strike and watch them drop like flies."

Lanny Zelkovii

Her addition to the proposal had Lanny nodding here and there, listening intently to her detailed knowledge of the officer's current routine, "Tonight then, we'll make a stop at Staghorn Estates. Pick up the snakes, and - well hell, I'll get in touch with Mr. Luckenbill too." He suggested, speaking of one of the black-market dealers that was on their payroll, and one that specialized in foreign animal trade. "He's said there's quite a few venomous snakes out here in the Valley, and I'll bet he can snatch a few, as well as offer what he's got in his cargo."

A sly smirk rose when she came right down to the mission, "Precisely. We'll get our revenge."

Cassidy

Now it was her turn to nod, working through the plan in her head and examining it at all angles to pick up any kinks or flaws. And as far as this phase went, she couldn't find any. Except... "Wait a minute. There could be a small problem. You know Johann keeps tabs on Sohmers... a couple months back, he took in one of the Akatsuki, the young kid. He's the kid's official sponsor... he's staying at his house. If he's there..."

She didn't need to finish the statement. She knew that he understood that implication easily, and they definitely didn't want to stir up anything with Ryan, the only decent cop in the whole blamed city.

Lanny Zelkovii

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me... he seriously took in one of those cretins? Wow..." Lanny shook his head in disbelief, not sure whether to be amused at the prospect of what Ryan would have to deal with in rearing one of the Akatsuki, or infuriated that their plan now had a glaring flaw.

Thinking for a new route, a curious idea sprang to mind. "Say, you have any plans today? Why don't we take the Bronc out and see what critters we can wrangle up." He wouldn't admit that part of it was because he found, for some reason or the other, that he wanted to spend a bit more time with her.

Cassidy

Her only response to his amazement was her continued, slightly-smiling face of emptiness that was her trademark. But his offer sparked her interest, privately noting to herself that she also did not want to adjourn this little meeting until tonight. So after a moment, she said, "As long as this little activity includes a drive home so that Johann can't scold me for playing with snakes, you've got yourself a deal. You know how he is about slithery things." And indeed, it was a well known fact that the brave, fearless man who had been in the gang longer than anyone else left alive and had proven his loyalty over and over in bloody battles, was terrified of snakes. He didn't react much to them, other than to freeze when one was in the room, but even that was admitting a good deal of unease in him.

Lanny Zelkovii

Laughingly, Lanny stood up and took a daring last gulp of the cold water, "You've got yourself a deal. So, I suppose it's out of the question to have you safeguard our presents to the Akatsuki?" A big grin was donned as he gave this jest, knowing that wasn't about to happen any time soon, "Now, it's not often I go out rounding up deadly snakes. Luckenbill says there's plenty in the Croals, but I don't think even my Bronco can handle that terrain. I suppose..." He gave a thoughtful silence as he pondered the idea, "Unless you know of any spots, we can either just pick a place at random, or get the Arab to point us in the right direction. He's big on wildlife stuff."

Cassidy

His joke finally got a smile out of her, something that wasn't her forward face, but more actual amusement and pleasure at the jest, which was a welcome change from her everyday facade. It wasn't much, but it was a real, unformulated emotion from her, and it spoke of true enjoyment, which was almost a first in her. So she answered him, "Hey, whichever works... I've got all day."

Lanny Zelkovii

"Ah, I've got it." Digging into his pocket, Lanny came up with his cellphone and scrolled through the names to select Brian. As the phone was ringing, he motioned a hand to beckon Cassidy to follow him, after first laying down two dollar bills to cover the cost of her ice tea. "Brian? Hey, I need you to do me a favor." Lanny was strolling towards the exit now while talking, and then holding the door open for Cassidy before continuing on to his vehicle, "Talk with Tarak and find out the best locations for poisonous snakes. Oh, don't worry about it yet. Just- yeah, just ask him. I'll tell you more later. No, and he- Brian, no, it's just a little side project, that's all, and James doesn't need to know. Because. Ok, yeah - yeah, just give me a buzz when you get the details. K, c'ya." By the time the conversation was over, Lanny was in his Bronco and leaning over to open the door for Cassidy.

Cassidy

Somehow miraculously, the drunken man of last night was transformed into one of solicitude and manners, and she accepted these little attentions gracefully, not seeming to take particular notice of them, but the little smiles she offered him for each one letting him know she was startlingly pleased he'd done it. For as much as Cassidy had slept around town, she'd never been treated with this kind of well-mannered attention, and it pleased her and confused her at once. Of course, only the former emotion was revealed as she climbed up into the Bronco and settled beside him in the cab.