Curse of the Fallen Quest: Ring Bearer's Trilogy

[VandalHeart]

Gumo led her to the car and opened her door. After she climbed in, he got behind the wheel and reminded himself that he needed to stay on the right side of the road. As they drove back to the hotel, they were mostly silent. When they arrived, he turned to car off and sat in an uncomfortable silence for but a moment.
"...I'm sorry for the way I acted back there, but you weren't being rational."
He paused again for a moment.
"What did you hear back there?"

 

[nightray]

Ray

I smile as I hear Arias faint mental voice telling me she is coming. I stand then and begin pacing wondering how she got out of that boat alive but it didn’t mater she was alive and coming.

I move to the windows looking out over the city. I don’t know how I was going to find the other two ring bares but I had to for what ever reason. I feel the cold with in me pushing the warmth from the ring back once agene as the lights in my eyes fad all most to nothing an evil grin coming to my lips.

I lesson to Kats movements in the other room as she dresses preparing for the hunt. My fangs grow longer with the thought of tarring in to some helpless mortal’s throat to the sound of there dying breath. I may have eaten already but it seemed at times that I would never get enough feeding as much from there death as from there blood.

I shake my head fighting the darkness of revolted by my own thoughts but the evil smile remains.

 

[Firegirl976]

Kat

I grab my short slitted dress out of my bad and throw it on the bed. Slipping on a lacy thong and bra set I sit down to slip on my stockings when I sense something familiar, then I sense the confusions and sorrow coming from Ray. I walk over to the door sending out comfort and warmth to Ray but sensing his need to hurry I go back to getting dressed. I brush out my hair till it sparkles and add the slightest touch of gloss to my lips. Finally I drape the dress on over my lingerie and stockings and add a pair of deep blue stiletto heels to finish the look. I turn and glance in the mirror, the skirt is extremely short but just right showing off my muscular legs and firm butt. THe sleeveless style accentuates my arms and the kimono style collar all help to showoff my high firm breasts. The deep midnight blue dress was a gift from Lance long ago and I felt scandalous every time I wore it. With my hair now flowing down my back to my thighs I walk out to where Ray is standing a sexy swing to my walk and a smile on my lips. "Well Ashke'..........Shall we dance???"

 

[nightray]

Ray

I turn at Kats voice my eyes widening as I take in what she’s wearing. “You look gorges kat simply lushes.” I smile as my eyes move up and down her body several times.

I look up at her face a smirk on my lips. “Ok what do you feel like feeding on tonight rich and snobby, punchers, bikers?” I chuckle as I move to her taking her arm in min as I push the thoughts of aria and the rings out of my mind for now. I lead Kat out the door. I put my sunglasses back on so as not to scar the pore mortals.

The door man looks at me and gives me a knowing wink as he looks at Kat he eyes devouring her. I chuckle softly “You are certainly going to draw some good food tonight.” I smile a slightly insolent smile as I lead her out of the front doors. “So were to and cab or walk?”

 

[Firegirl976]

Kat

I shiver slightly as Ray takes my arm and leads me out the door. Seeing the doormans reaction I grin wickedly and plant a light kiss on Ray's cheek.

“So were to and cab or walk?”

"Neither" I respond as a limo pulls up to the front of the building and the door opens for us. Once seated inside I avoid making eye contact with him, knowing that the more my hunger grows the more it will show in my eyes, last look had them a deep violet and the urge was almost too much to control with the viril Vampire sitting next to me. "As far as where to there is a club not far from here.........higher end which is up my ally and snobby bitches which is up your ally." I turn to him a small smirk on my face as the driver takes us to the club. I can hear the music several blocks away which should be perfect for covering any possible noise. My hand rests on RAy's thigh almost without thinking and I wonder if I can trust him to help me if tonights hunt isn't enough. At least I no longer must feed on blood to keep my powers up, I think to myself as my fingers unknowingly massage his corded muscles.

 

[nightray]

Ray

I look at Kat oddly as I feel her hand on my thigh squeezing slightly. I feel my self responding to her touch as I smile. “MMM sound good to me.” I chuckle softly as I look out the window at the club as we pull up in front of the doors.

I get out helping Kat out smirking as I see the looks on the bouncers faces as she steps out of the car. We don’t even bother to go to the end of the line we go strata for the doors as the open for use. I chuckle softly as we walk in to the loud music and bright flashing lights.

I put my arm around Kat's waist so as not to loss her and to feel her body pressed up agenst mine. I lead the way to the bar my eyes scanning the crowd. I put my mouth to Kats ear so as not to yell. “You do know how to pick a good hunting ground.” I say softly in to her ear my worm breath wafting over it.

 

[poohlive]

Keith

The gun held straight on his face, it touched the skin of his brow, and keith felt a bead of sweat dripping along it's smooth side. Running down metal and skin, half and half.
The vampire giving him a smirk that met with any sort of contempt and disregard for human life. Keith didn't realize it until now, but they were monsters, pure monsters. They were just the kind of things that hid under your bed, waiting for you to go get a drink of water. Except they didn't live in your imagination.
They were just as real as the gun against his head.
"Only human."
He closed his eyes, waiting for the rip of bullet fire to ravish his body, and it came, in an ear splitting explosion that sent him flying off to the side, heat scampering up and down his body.
It wasn't bullets though, it was an explosion. A grenade. He opened his eyes, laying face down on the ground, watching as the vampire flew in the air, and landed in a similiar position.
Keith didn't need an incentive.
Up on his hands and knees, he searched the grass for a weapon. Something, anything he could use to blast that fucking beast a new asshole. Nothing came to his sight, nothing useful except for a few shards of metal.
The vampire, with half of his face entrapped in blood and metal, stood up, the gun still in his hands, pointing it right at Keith.
He back up, moving towards some sort of cover, but nothing was available.
He fired the gun, bullets landing around the ground, one imbedding itself in his arm, he screamed as the heat doubled there, but continued to move back as fast as he could.
The vampire came closer, reloading the weapon as he did so. Something was in his eyes, a lust for death that Keith had only seen in pictures. Serial killers got that, when they talked about their murders. That glassy sharklike stare that told anyone the rational part of his brain had just shut off, and he was running on auto-pilot.
No reasoning with a machine.
His hand came across a sharp object, slicing up his palm. He cursed, but the feeling was also mixed with joy. He grabbed it, holding it as hard as he could. It was the blade of an axe, with little left of the handle.
Nearly on top of him, the vampire let the gun rise up to his head, just like before. All of it leading up to the same position, standing at the mercy of a killer, screaming for a life he already thought to be worthless.
Without thought, Keith put all he had into his swing, as the axe buried itself in the side of the vampire.
He screamed, dropping the gun. Keith jumped to his feet, the gun in his hand, and let the bullets fly through the already dead carcass. Even after he turned to nothing but dust, Keith let a few more go, just to make sure.
God in heaven, just to make sure his ticket to hell was one fucking way.
Keith dropped down to his knees, the gun falling uselessly to the floor.
He had asked to open pandora's box, was it any wonder all sorts of beasts had come running out? All of his life was spent waiting for this moment, to stand bloody and bruised amidst a group of dead vampires wishing he didn't know a fucking thing.
The door of the mansion opened, and Keith turned, almost instinctively, to watch as a tall and domineering man stepped out, dressed in fine attire.
He looked like a lunatic in the middle of this battlefield, where smoke and blood were still fresh in the air.
"You have done well, better than I expected."
He bowed slightly, inviting them in, "Please. Let us go inside and discuss your business here."

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Christian

"And why would you go off by yourself and leave behind your clan?"
Oddly, her presence didn't surprise me. Seemed like she'd been right there throughout the trip here from the cemetery.
I turned to her, seeing her standing beside me, not showing the defensiveness she'd shown in the cemetery (maybe feeling it, but not showing so far as I could tell).
"I love them like family," I stated, as if that were an explanation of something in itself. "Sometimes, we need to be away from our families, I guess. Sometimes their love and protection works against us, keeps us too safe and tightly held to breath the way we should."
I wasn't sure where the words were coming from, but they felt right. I missed Kayla, and these vampires, my tribe, understood that, and cared about me. But did I need nurtured the way they would?
"Not long ago, I lost someone close to me," I explained, unsure of why she even cared, and even less certain as to why I was explaining, why I felt comfortable enough with her to explain.
Because you are close to them, and not to her, my mind insisted, the voice one that I'd heard since being born into darkness, one that guided me I my ways when i needed it and had often saved my life, one I hadn't heard since meeting Kayla. Knowing it was still there made me feel less alone. You've been through a rough time, and you've already begun to separate yourself from them, to back away, because they are close to you and you don't wish to burden them, but also because you care what they think, and you're afraid they'll view you as weak. This girl...what do you care what she thinks of you?
That bore the ring of truth, but i thought there was more to it than that.
I'd grown silent in my introspection."I lost someone very close to me," I repeated. "And I feel that perhaps she was what was keeping me here, what made this place, not just the building but...I feel she was what made it right for me. Now I think perhaps I need to find another path. have you ever felt that way? As if what the world seemed to have plannd for you suddenly became wrong, that you have other things to do and be than you initially thought? That what you would have ided for yesterday meant very little today?"
I eyed the girl, feeling at ease, perhaps for the reasons the voice in my head suggested.

 

[The GrandMage]

Lord Vladamir Trepes

He got to his feet, pulling himself upright and moving towards the door. He looked over the human, noting wounds. He blinked. He shook his head, looking over to the man in front of them.

"He needs being patched up, first. While that's being attended to, we can talk. Anything he needs to learn from you can wait. While he's being attended to, we can talk. And you would be? Mongrel this time, or perhaps another servant?"

 

[The GrandMage]

Shadows in the Mist

"I don't see why I have to be some kind of delivery boy," the man said. He was a young lad, perhaps in his early thirties. He stood in the middle of the aging forest dressed in a business suit. A small briefcase rested against a cage on the ground. The cage was covered, and emitting the high-pitched sounds of the creatures within.

The robed figure regarded the man uncertainly. "Perhaps you do not understand, his is the Great One." From the folds of his robe, he produced an aging book. "It has taken us centuries to even begin to understand the things that are written here. And he has translated a third of it already! Think of it, the ancient dialect of an even longer gone language. And he has not only the key to tell us what words they are in modern days, but what they meant in ages long past. The inticracies of a language we can not even begin to understand are coming to light."

The man opened his mouth, face twisted in anger to respond on his high social standing when a figure came into his vision behind the robed man. It limped into the light. The grimy cloak wrapped around it's wrecked body, the wide brimmed hat covered its twisted face. It hissed as it breathed.

Clawed fingers reached down, grabbing and ripping off bars. The huge bats spread their wings, and began their ascent into the night, grabbing hold of branches. After a few seconds, they filled the surrounding trees, a chorus of winged rodents.

A voice hissed out from under the dirty, grimy cloth. "Diiiiiiid youuuu brrrrrriiiiing it?" The man picked up the briefcase, and pulled out an envelop. He opened it up, passing the picture over. The clawlike fingers reached out, and the man pressed it into them in fear. The hand disappeared back into the folds of cloth, and the figure walked back into the woods. The bats took off after it. After a few minutes, the shaken man turned back to the elder.

"Dad, what does he want with that, anyway? He can't see."

"My son, not all sight comes from the eyes. Come now, the circle is begining. The have much work to do with the Great One. He was much battered when brought unto us."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

Sitting in the car, I didn't give much arguement as we drove off. My mind was elsewhere, so much information in such a short time frame. I needed to rest before acting on anything. Including going to Ray.

The name brought forth memories, more and more memories. Groaning, I cupped my head in my palms, trying to stop the visions and headache. Bits and pieces were still missing, well I thought peices were missing since half of the shit in my mind wasn't making sense.

For instance, I knew my son's name and face, but did not recall how he died. Only that he did die. I could see Ray's face in my mind but recalled little of our time together with the family. Had he been elsewhere? I knew who Joseph was, but not the details. It was if time was lost after Joseph and I married.

Maggie, my cousin. A faceless name I had in my head. Who were my family and where did they go? Brother's or sisters? Confused and tired, I wanted to find Lance and ask him questions but I wasn't sure if that was wise. I remembered little of him. The warehouse and cat healing him. I remembered much later with Lance laying in a bed ill and pale before Mongrel arrived. Big gaping holes that needed filled up but I did not want to worry about it right now neither.

The car was stopped, noticing finally, I accepted Gumo's appology and climbed out of the car. Heading upstairs to my room for some peace and quiet, definately some thinking time.

"I don't want to do this again.." I mumbled as the elevator rode upwards. My hands hurt from clenching up tightly. I did not want to do this whole mess all over again!

I had to sort out some thoughts in my head and try and get shit accurate some how.. Then I could tell Gumo how to find Ray and continue on with whatever they wanted to pretend to do.. Only they were going to do it without me. I needed a vacation and fuckin' hell! I was taking one. Besides, all these memories are so fucked up, maybe I am imagining it all? I said the last bit aloud but paid no attention to questioning looks from passer-byes.

"Thanks. I will see you in a few hours. I need sleep." Simple to the point, my door slammed in his face as I moved to the bed and flopped face first into the pillows.

 

[Sweetp4u]

A.B.

"Ahh.. I see." She shuffled her feet a little and caught the eyes of someone coming past her on the side walk. Their eyes widened a little, morbid curiousity making them do a double take before they hurried as fast as they could past her. Her head swivled around and followed their movements into the club.

She could hear their hearts pounding inside, the call of their blood.. She had fed enough tonight, but these small things never ceased to amaze her. She thought over his words before turning to look at him again, study him.

"Tired of being babied aren't you?" I gave a little smile, I knew how he felt. My master had been the same way. Seeing me as fragile and delicate and unable to handle things naturally anymore due to the mistreatment.

It was decades ago and shut off in my mind, but his face still haunted me now and then in the night. The master was a great man, a good man. Even after he was turned he remained as good as he could... and when he couldn't control the blood lust any longer he went into a fierce battle for the King, assuring himself he would not make it out alive.

Snapping out of the past, she nervously glanced around before backing up a step. "Look.. If you want to try living on your own, I say do it, but be aware of the dangers. As for your path, Fate deals her hands. Whether you want her too or not. You calling is coming I sense and soon. The ring you wear on your hand isn't a natural thing.. And since no one I've seen in your clan has a similiar ring, I assume its different. Perhaps you should look into that? Or hire someone to find out information for you." She smiled a little, always business in her mind.

"Either case, I am around if you ever need a loner's perspective on something. Just go to the old Templeton square and ask for AB." She glanced around again, edgy slightly but not as badly as before.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Christian

Hire someone? That was something I hadn't considereed, though it wasn't really my sort of angle. Hiring someone for information was a different type of action than I was used to. The clan I'd known most of my life was a more violent type clan, a few truly dangerous actions, but mostly just minor skirmishes. We fought when we had to, because we had to, and fighting was what we'd gotten to be good at. The violence had gotten worse, and rumors among us were that war would become inevitable, but it seemed far-fetched, too distant a possibility to grasp just yet.
Hire someone to investigate the ring? I glanced at the girl, seeing the smile touch her lips, and realized she felt she was up to the job.
"You do this type of work?" I asked, though it was more a statement than a question. I nodded. "Alright. I can arrange payment based on the amount and value of the information you bring me, does that sound fair?"

 

[Sweetp4u]

A.B.

Nodding her head, she held out her hand to shake his. "It's a deal. Payment will be decided when the information is delivered to you, but don't think I do anything for cheap." she chuckled softly. Shrewd business yet again.

"I best go now Christian, give me your number for contact and I'll be gone, history.. a memory." The tingling had started, a mission. Something to do other than sit around and be bored silly. she needed a change of pace, a change of lifestyle. Something other than sitting around ninety percent of her life. All well, she'd think of something later. For now she had something interesting to do. And the ring did look interesting.

Taking his hand in her own, she lifted it to her face and studied the ring. Turning his hand over again she looked over the symbols on the ring. "Gaelic." It appeared to be. Nothing more was on the ring. It glowed a faint color which grew brighter as she held onto his hand and faded when she released it.

This ring was supernatural, something mystical about it. She had a few sources for information, she'd make use of them.
"Good bye." She moved back into the shadows and began mixing in with the crowded streets as she walked, keeping her hood over her face as best she could. Luckily the wind did not blow tonight.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Christian

And with that she was gone. I stood for a moment, trying to laugh the idea off that she might find something out, that there might be some purpose to the ring. i'd accepted it as being a somewhat magical item, one placed on my finger as I slept by Isabelle, who insists she'd never seen it before. But the way it glowed, and often grew warmer, and how it sometimes felt heavy on my hand, not actual weight, but...
I found myself thinking very much that I'd like to see the girl again, and hoping when she returned, she'd bring a bit of information with her.
That in mind, I headed inside.

 

[Sweetp4u]

A.B.

Moving through the city took little time, day light was a bit away but she felt drained already. The questions kept rolling through her mind as she walked.

Why would she offer to help a stranger? Job or no job, Jordan kept her pretty busy, so why did she offer her services? The nagging voice in her head told her why but she ignored that. She did not feel compelled to help him merely because of the sadness in his eyes. That was absurd, she didn't care about anyone or anything but herself. Or so she told herself as she walked along.

Tomorrow she would go to the clergyman she knew and ask him about the symbols. She had them in her mind, recalling them from times long ago but it had been too long since she had been taught how to read and write in several languages. Dead languages were of no use anymore, so why use it?

Opening her door, she turned and threw all the bolts and locks once more, barring her door from unwanted visitors getting inside. The apartment manager said nothing about her steel door, finding her more odd than he cares to know about. It came to her exspense, so he did not care.

Turning on her cd player, she listened to the haunting sounds of Nine inch nails as she drifted off to sleep.

 

[Firegirl976]

Kat

I shudder slightly as his breath travels over my skin and his lips lightly caress the sensitive skin by my ear at his words. Smiling seductively I take a well manicured hand and push his head away from me gently, turning I grab his hand and pull him towards a corner table sitting down and waiting as he gets himself comfortable. I look around watching the young people around us men and women all having a wonderful time being wild in New York. I wave over a waitress and flashing a smile order a bottle of Sandemans Reserve port and two glasses, then again begin scanning the crowd for an appropriate target. I lightly toss my hair over my shoulder and rub my neck an attempt to relieve some of the tension, I smile again at Ray "See anything worth working for yet??" I Cross my legs allowing the slits in the dress to open almost to my hips bouncing my foot lightly.

 

[VandalHeart]

Gumo sat in the car for a moment, his question unanswered. This was unlike almost anything else he had ever been involved in. He gathered himself and his thoughts -- almost seperatley -- and went back up to his room. He didn't bother Aria, she was tired. He didn't bother his assistants, they were most likely hard at work, or asleep. He thought about all the things he had learned over the past two days, and it made him laugh a desperate, angry laugh.
"Why do people have to keep making things that destroy the world?"

 

[The GrandMage]

Shadows in the Mist

In the center of the clearing sat and ancient stone throne. It was grown over with vines, thorned and dark, choking the very soul from the stone. The figure sat there. Elders from a different area had come, and after the spells were confering with the others.

A young man came forward with a steaming bowl of water and a rag. "Oh Great One, would you wish to be cleaned?" He had tried this ever since the Great One had come, but the man always refused. Grime and dirty built up on him.

"Yesssssss." came the hissed responce. A clawed hand reached up, taking off the hat. Greasy hair hang fromhis head. His lip pulled back in the triange where flesh was gone, a fang gleaming in the moonlight.

"Bringggggg me sssssome clean thingsssss. I wissssssh to be made fully cleeeeeaaaaaannnnnnn." The young man nodded, and quickly ran off to make preperations. One of the elder's stared at him from across the clearing.

A great bat winged it's way to the throne, catching on to the figure's shoulder and making it's high pitched call. The clawed hand reached up, scratching it's head.

"Tomorrow I leave on a journey. Find me a guide. I have someplace to go."

"Where, oh Great One?"

"Home."

A picture slipped from the edge of the throne, falling to the ground. The smiling face of a woman and a young boy reflected in the moonlight.

 

[poohlive]

Mongrel let his eyebrow raise up, giving them both an objected look. A few people were already moving to help with Keith, getting him the attention he needs.
"Don't tell me it's been that long Vlad."
He moved away from the door so the man could come in.
"Ages and ages, I would assume. You don't look a day different. I have been expecting you for a while now, didn't know you would make such a dashing entrance."
They retired to an old private library. A place set up with rows upon rows of old books, and lavish furnishings. Mongrel offered the man a cigar, before taking one himself and relaxing to a bay window off to one side.
"So," he got comfortable in the leather chair, "What brings you here so suddenly?"

 

[The GrandMage]

Lord Vladamir Trepes

He blinked, giving a confused look. Suddenly, he peered closely at the man, and a shocked look crossed his face before he regained control. He followed Mongrel inside, and sat down. He accepted the cigar, and tapped it on his knee.

"It has been a while, hasn't it. I must admit, I'd forgotten about you. Mongrel now, is it? Been centuries. And I'm here, because, well, to be quite blunt,...I'm here to kill you. Or, rather, that was my main reason for coming here. You understand, of course. It's been so long, and when I knew you, you weren't called Mongrel. When did this change come about?"

 

[poohlive]

"I've had many names over the centuries. None of them stick. I go from one to the other, like a butterfly moving to so many flowers."
He let a big whiff of smoke inhale around his head, the aroma mixing in with the musk of the room, adding to an atmosphere of two men having a lively conversation, as it were.
"To kill me? I thought we had gotten some sort of bargain dealt with so long ago. Each of us not becoming enemies, so much as distant allies, if the contract isn't too dusty in my old mind. I admit, I have lived for so long, some details tend to relieve themselves of me. Please, talk. Tell me what you have kept yourself up to, and why I happen to find you in this accursed predicament."
To kill him. Mongrel gave an odd look. Perhaps a joke, but perhaps not. If he knew as much of Vlad as he though, jokes weren't much of his personality.
Indeed, this might be a shorter meeting than he had thought.

 

[The GrandMage]

Lord Vladamir Trepes

"Let's see,....I did lapse into insanity for a bit. I'm sure you saw that coming. Became a real crazy guy. Built myself up a global corporation front for collecting and training vampires for my own little army. It seems to be going quite well,...ran into a few old friends,...."

He looked around before finally getting to lighting his cigar. He smoked it for a moment, watching Mongrel, before letting the smoke out to add to the quaint little atmosphere he was building.

"And I believe the contract was more of a mutual agreement that we'd likely kill each other. Besides, you wanted a book I thought would never see day again, and I, of course, had my own, personal, motives. I'm glad to see things are moving up for you. Seems the book is out in the world again. And that's what brings me here."

"Remember what I said about finding old friends? I ran across an old comrade of mine from the Bloodguard days. A few decades before your time, I'm afraid. Name of Joseph DeLonaye. Ran across him, burned near to death, muttering about his family. It took a little work, but seems his wife uncovered those cursed rings, and hunted up that book you've been scrounging for. Seems someone had them killed. And Mongrel, you know just how much I hate it when people mess around with people I know. Especially when I want to kill them. Well, naturally I started a hunt for the killers. And lo and behold, here I am!"

He watched Mongrel a moment, then released the smoke from his cigar. "But now that I know you're behind this, well, I thought maybe we'd have a little talk instead of a lengthy, obtuse bloodbath. After all, we're both reasonable men. So, Mongrel, been killing any women and children lately?"

 

[poohlive]

Mongrel gave a faint nod, unsure what the man quite was talking about. The rings he understood, but specific people? They rang no bell.
"Well, if you met up with him, I am sure I didn't do a very good job of killing him."
He gave a bit of a laugh, which didn't seem much like a laugh at all.
"The book is in a very safe place. Forgive me if I don't bring it out. I am very keen on it at the moment, and don't trust it even amongst my own trusted advisors. When I saw the battle coming forth I decided to hide it. Can't be too careful this day and age. I do thank you for your congratulations though. I would like to extend the same. Many a knees tremble at your name, so I've heard."
He looked up into the hazy air, swirls of smoke and memories fogging through the distance, allowing but a little beacon of light to impercede.
"Yes, I do remember coming across the wretched ring wraiths. They were bent on destroying me, if I'm not mistaken. In this world it is kill or be killed, Vlad. You know that as well as I do. Understand, mind you. They chose to come after me, I didn't just pick them at random to be destroyed. They stop pursuing my destruction, I have no problem with leaving your enemies alone to a more personal death. It it the gentlemanly thing to do."
He said that, as if the words held more weight now that they had been uttered into the world of existance, floating around their heads like such a smoke of cigar.
"What do you need of me then? Perhaps something more intuitive to discuss? You seem as if you have something on your mind, or the tip of your tongue. I am here to help, to an extent. And you have more than my attention with your little display here."

 

[poohlive]

Willow let the piece of paper fold out, dialing up the number as it was written.
It rang a few times, before he could heard someone pick up.
"This would be Gumo, is that correct? I just want to make sure I have the name all right. See, the thing is, I need to know who I'm looking at, and I'm not sure... Yeah holding a cell phone. I think I've got the right man."
He coughed, excusing himself.
"We didn't get a proper introduction back on the airport. You sort of ran off before we even got a chance to talk. I think we should talk Gumo. Would you like to talk? Come on down, there'll be a limo to pick you up. You and I can have a nice long chat."