bad santa (samuel)

[Samuel Banks-Walker]

He paused in his answer switching immediately to something bland neither of them cared for as the waiter walked over. “Can you really believe that Philly came out on top over the patriots. I’m glad Brady lost but it was never a real potential with a back up quarter back…Oh uhm yes we’re ready to order. May we have the Triple Buddhist Treasure with I know this is near sacrilege but beef and the General Tso’s crispy Chicken along with the Scotland Salmon Bento Box, Thank you.” As the wiater who’d as of yet not bothered to introduce himself left Samuel nodded at the thought dancing behind Monica’s eyes yes. The Waiter was definitely militarily trained. He was also not working for any military that was obvious due his carriage he’d been out of official service for awhile that was clear even as he kept some of the tells.

As they were once more alone Samuel said, " Its more than that it’s a novel new way of doing things that connects with the old. Each clan head or vampire chosen is a sub master of whichever Borough they are gifted. Such I being gifted Manahattan… " He let that sink in for a second. Yes he would be responsible and accountable for most things that took place in Manahattan. Criminal. Legal and otherwise. The potential for error was high and would bring a scrutiny he had always shied away from previously. Even the best kept secret could come to the surface.

[Monica Davis-banks walker]

She laughed because of all the things to pick football neither of them really cared about nor kept up with outside of perfunctory knowledge. She feigned empathy at the upset and was even more interested in the food he was ordering it sounded so good. She was still giving him the hairy eyeball tho. His aura made her hairs stand on the edge and screamed danger. She would have probably tipped her hand if she wasn't sitting across from someone even more dangerous by half and on her side if no one else's.

Listening as he explained she near choked on her drink as he said what Erick and unexpectedly he was now going to be responsible for. She placed the glass down and swallowed again eyes watering. Blinking at him She had gotten used to what he was when they first met that seemed forever ago then finding out he was militis then his jump to rex they had been together through so many major changes so why did this one scare her? She finally managed to find words" well then I suppose I need a gown or something then right?"

[Samuel Banks-Walker]

He waited and gauged the time it would take for the waiter to come back over. Nodding as he did the mental math. Sitting his drink further from him he leaned forward folding his hands and resting his elbows on the table.



Dropping his voice so as his voice would carry the weight of what he said but wouldn’t drift across the room. In fact he pitched his voice so that it would only reach Monica. He met her eyes and said.



“Its more than a dress. No matter what you wear you will be perfect ravishingly you. But its also that not only would the Pride no that you were mine and I yours. While yes my Intimita you would be perceived by the community at large as my Regina in all but name. You would have the other powers in the city treat you as if though uninfected that you were part of the community wholecloth. And while we as a whole can be circumspect from the mindless graffiti which tells the story of a neighborhood or city block to the even more archaic markings etched into certain places we can also be unsubtle. While on a case some citizen trying desperately to catch your eyeline or some would be suspect sharing their heart with you expecting you to get the message to me. To danger literally waking you up while you might be on a stakeout. It would tie us together in a way that we’ve managed to keep others from knowing. Before you my longest relationship has been two years. And nowhere near as trusting.”



Having made his peace stating what the ceremony would mean publicly and privately he sat back sipping his drink and asked “So as everything looks good on you what shade should we coordinate as a way to drive home the point that we ARE?"

[Monica Davis-banks walker]

This was too much, it was too much her head started spinning and she couldn't catch her breath. Since Nola she had not felt the weight of them crashing down on her like he did now. No shame in them together but he had said clearly that not only would this endanger her but in her own way her reputation would reflect on him he would not be as free to move in shadow as he now was because the community would recognize who she was in her own regard.

They almost had more to lose in this then gain she hated being a secret in some ways but the people who mattered knew his brother and mother her gaggle of family members knew what he meant to her and she to him. In the same vein if she didn't step forward and people started to push him to take a Regina or the females tried to get the place at his side she couldn't claim offense. She knew he wouldn't do such a thing to her but for appearance's sake. Monica tried to get her breathing under control and closed her eyes" mmm..maybe we should wait till we go home to ..sort that out"

Monica was not known for cowardice, most would say she was a hero or brave but right now she felt anything but.

[Samuel Banks-Walker]

He knew it was a lot to consider them coming out of the shadows. She was already known as his Intimita amongst the Pride and received the respect of a Regina with them. That however was a differing thing to the fact they’d be ‘Official’ on the city stage and potentially the world. It would raise scrutiny for sure luckily they had been circumspect in the public eye. He was in fact worried but would remain as calm as he could be. Her job would certainly draw certain amount of ire. And he was sure that even as her Superior had been gracious that there would be definitely an inquiry t say the least. While he believed they could weather any storm he would not begrudge her if she chose to shrink away form the light in this regard. He’d always done so with each of her commendations. Never officially there as her guest or sitting with her family. Always at the fringe saving his kudos and congratulations for private affairs.



He waited bated breath trying to decide what he was feeling as he sought to understand her feelings as well He had never seen her blanch at the idea of danger before yet now she had. He smiled to help ease the blow of what would be expected. Nodding to the kitchen window which he was able to discern du e the reflection in the window. She would have an easier view. There was something afoot he couldn’t tell what save the heightened aggression on the air and the rapid waving of hands.

[Monica Davis-banks walker]

Hating how she felt, wishing that it didnt matter so much to those around them who they were alone or together. He took it graciously and her heart hurt at how much more she loved him for that alone. It just seemed that they were again on a cliff and the winds pulling them apart and over were stronger this time.

She would fight, there was no way she wouldn't but as he caught her attention and shifted it to the kitchen the action there cleared the fog. Her brain sharpened and her hand went to her off duty peice tucked in her bag. Sliding the ruger lcr .38mm out checking the cylinder all out of site. The gun tucked in her thigh holster under the dress.

Eyes back to her lion her demenor more familar" guess we wont be getting our entrees "

[Samuel Banks-Walker]

Turning ever so slightly in his chair to gain a better view and decide. Whatever it was that Monica had seen had warranted being armed immediately. The four second time difference from her purse to her holster. Inhaling as he saw it the waiter was not the waiter. The shift change in the kitchen had opened an area whatever team he was working with had not foreseen. It was almost enough to make him chuckle as it was always the unforeseen that ruined an operation. Nodding to Monica he dropped his cutlery to the floor. He would be the distraction giving her time to operate. As he stood dropping to scoop up the silverware he flashed two fingers at he two men at the service counter over her left shoulder at eight o'clock. He was unsure how many were in the kitchen but he would find out soon enough.

Standing he affected his best entitled New York asshole elite. "Can you believe this silverware hits the floor and not so much as one person coming to help. How is any right thinking person to eat in place like this. This is completely unacceptable. Such a poor level of service. I mean really...Hello!!! I mean really Hello!!!"

With each syllable he walked closer to the kitchen looking left and right being purposefully oblivious to those at the counter beginning an intercept course as he neared the kitchen where muffled grunts and the sound of combat reached his ears. Based on the noises he pegged four which meant a potential team of six unless they were smart and had a spotter somewhere in the early dinner crowd.

[Monica Davis-banks walker]

That was all fine and well they could have a spotter but they could not account for her being able to detect the intent of the person anywhere in the room by reading the aura. As he got up making a fuss she head tilted like she was in agreement but had caught the two and position of them in the room she swept the room and caught a lone man at a back table pretending to be having a working dinner but the laptop and the plate of near untouched food was a cover. he would be the wild card. She wasn't sure what this was about but she didn't like it.

Abel would probably blame this on her since he normally drove them and she noticed Samuel had driven instead. That was reason enough this couldn't be allowed to go south. She didn't want the civies caught in the crossfire and once gunshots started that would mess up everything and cause a scramble for the door and the unis to be called. crap all things she didn't need. Thinking fast she went to intercept the two by apearing to be drunk and stumbled into them hands quickly pulling and tugging at them enough to figure out where the guns were hidden. They were caught off guard long enough to let Samuel get to close to the kitchen for him to be stopped after the fact.

The all but shoved her to the back of them which was a mistake as it gave her clear shot at them with nerve pinches she had learned in martial arts classes offered by the marshals for subdual purposes. Kidney and leg nerves hit and disabled making them both hit the floor hard and she was already turning for the man at the table to put eyes on him.

[Samuel Banks-Walker]

Feeling more than hearing her at his bag hassling the interceptors he was allowed to focus on crossing the threshold into the kitchen. He almost chuckled out loud. The three out front should have been helping their men in the kitchen. The three mercenaries in the kitchen while trained were not accustomed to the close quarters. As such all of their he was sure vaunted training was reduced to defense. The five cooks were fighting with all they had the floor covered in spilled fry oil and cats off food the counters a mess of vegetables and sundry food products. The Mercenaries wearing far more than their share of food and various sauces. It was mess and laughable. Dropping his shielding he stepped fully into the kitchen.



They weren’t lycanthropes but two of them had some sensitivity as when he dropped his shields he suddenly had their full attention the third was either a null or just sheer baseline not so much as long lost aunt or uncle with even a sprinkling of Arcadian blood. Unbuttoning his coat he said, "You all need to stop this before someone gets seriously hurt… Whatever it is you are attempting is over. Where is your boss its clear you all are the laborers?"

[Monica Davis-banks walker]

It happened so fast he was startled which gave her time to close ranks and draw on him with a tsking" Do not test me tonight you have ruined my date night. "

Letting her own bit of something slap at his aura turning his surprised anger and aggression to fear and worry. She took cuffs out of her jacket one-handed and tossed them to him" put these on cuff your self to the chair back or I can just shoot you now and save the trouble"

She gave him that face that cold stare that clearly said I don't care if you keep breathing so you choose. She watched him hesitate and assess to see if his friends were able to overtake her. Once they had hit the floor she had shown concerned diners her badge and they had thankfully not panicked. When he started plotting she clicked the safety off and aimed for center mass. At the range she was to him he wouldn't survive the shot and she wouldn't miss save something catastrophic on her end.

Hearing the click made him comply he threaded the cuff around the back of one of the chair slats and then carefully clicked them tight on both wrists. once she heard the click she got closer slow and then tightened them further he wasn't going to James bond his way out with double jointed thumbs. Going back to the other two after taking his laptop and using their bootlaces to bind them from getting up she listened out.

hearing and feeling her lion she waited to see what would happen. If he needed her she would clear the dinning room quick and shoot first.

[Samuel Banks-Walker]

Brains had never been a prerequisite to hired muscle and it was clear that it wasn’t as they turned to rush him en masse. Even if he hadn’t been a lycanthrope Samuel was sure he would have been stronger than he looked the suit often making most believe him softer than he ever could be. Even the ever-present gloves doing nothing to dissuade fools. As the three rushed trying simply by force of numbers shock and awe him he sighed. Dropped his left foot back his right forward slowly bringing up his guard. As they closed the seven feet in a rush he launched forward snapping a jaw loosening right cross catching the right most attacker. Almost instantly he slipped a straight right handed from the center most attacker which he countered with a left-handed hook to the ribs of the left most attacker designed to insure he would have trouble using the bathroom for the next month.

The central attacker continued his forward press meeting the immovable wall that was Samuel’s double handed rising push which set him firmly on his back. As he went to rise Samuel snap kicked his teeth down his digestive track. As the pain might not have been enough to keep him down long enough Samuel dropped a right that was designed to make his head spin for a few years. Samuel checked his watch sighing he was getting old. Five seconds start to finish he was losing a step.

Rising he waved the cooks over telling them to bind the men as best the could and throw them in the cooler. Leaving the kitchen he smiled at Monica and shrugging as he brushed off his jacket sleeve. Nodding at the spotter who was clearly the braintrust. Moving over to the table he sat crossed his right leg over his left and folded his hands in his lap waiting for Monica to join them.

[Monica Davis-banks walker]

Her smile was strange but impressed. She didn't think she would ever get used to how fast he could demolish a situation. When he sat Monica checked to see that some of the actual staff had come out to get the other two and reassure the customers who were given gift cards to come back and let to leave slowly so as not to cause suspicion. The closed sign was flipped and front door locked.

She clicked the safety on the gun back on and walked calmly to the table handing Samuel the laptop. She had closed it to be sure there was no survalance running or face recognition to whoever planned this crap.

[Samuel Banks-Walker]

He patiently waited for Monica to secure the area as only she could. Once settled he lifted and looked at the laptop as if he had never seen one and didn’t know what it did. He promptly sat it back down clearing his throat. Looking to Monica then to the laptop and finally to their spotters face. Folding his hands back together and placing them in his lap he fixed the spotter with a look that said he had all day.

Sitting looking at the two of them Samuel and Monica, realizing his highly paid team was demolished in the time it would take the average person to place a coffee order he sighed. “Okay who talks first how does this go. Its clear you guys were onto us. How can I get out of this jam? I have what ever information you need to build a case against Ward Ing.”

Samuel chuckled at the name Ward Ing. Ing was a Chinatown godfather. He dabbled in most things illegal but had a soft spot for gems and forgeries. It made Samuel curious. And it was within his purview Ing was operating this far from home that could be grounds for a war of sorts. He looked to Monica knowing she knew the name almost as assuredly as he did.

[Monica Davis-banks walker]

She sighed softly sitting then waiting until he spoke. When he did she tightened her jaw, why would Ing be causing trouble after all the city had just gone through? It wasn't smart for anyone she also knew that the man in front of her save being hidden away somewhere would not make it to a trial Ing would have him killed and not blink. She gave Samuel a glance someone would love to have this bust, she didn't need it. Leaning over close she whispered to him" we handle Ing how you want but if I have to call my coworkers you won't be able to step in on him later because they will be watching him once they snag this one"

She knew well enough how to cover the fact that they were even here as they hadn't paid for dinner and the staff would cover for them. She could wait till they had left and called it in stating she heard a commotion on the block. It would all come down to what Samuel wanted to do. They could throw this guy in the trunk call the unis for the mercs saying they tried to rob the place which im sure the staff thought was the case at first. Any of those worked for her.

[Samuel Banks-Walker]

Nodding and chuckling as if Monica had told a dirty joke. Meeting the spotters eyes . He continued chuckling. Stage whispering he said, “ Yes it is he thinks we are police he bought the fake badge. Luckily it is so well made.” He smiled sliding the laptop open. “So hmm, what do we have here. No password you are a brave man. Opening up his wordpad he typed ‘We go to Ing and have a conversation. Text Abel.’



Aloud he said " Wow what do we have here a list of other locations. Does that mean there are other teams? What do you think Angel?" asking Monica as he showed her the list of jobs they were pulling. Each of them were right at the edge of five miles from a gem wholesaler. Only three of the six were in Manhattan. One was in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx he inwardly sighed at the notion of Ing making a move this big.



“Let’s go. We have a lot to do. Why don’t you head to the car dear I have to tidy up.” He wouldn’t end the man, but he would leave him worse for wear. As Monica left Samuel stood up rolled his shoulders saying, “This will hurt but it will be your alibi you’ll have an opportunity to do something without having a price on your head maybe.” With that being said he fired off three combos pulling his punches so that his face looked worse than it actually was. The spotter passed out all the same once he did Samuel removed Monica’s cuffs and did a preliminary sweep. Nothing was left that actually ID’d them. He even made his way back to the office and removed the disc in the recorder. He erased the last twenty-four hours then poured water into the system.



Making his way out to the car. Getting in he met Monica’s gaze. “He will work for us once he gets out of jail and he is a contact with criminal HR. Lets g meet Ing so we can put him in his place.”