The dark sky began to leak. A cold winter drizzle pitter-pattered off the pavement. Umbrellas popped open, while others snapped into a speed-walk in order to reach their destination and shelter more quickly. Isaac flipped the collar of his coat up and put his head down. It had been months since he had walked these same streets. He didn't dare call this place "home", but in reality this city block had more of a reason than any other place to be called so.
As Isaac neared his destination, its sheer presence could be physically felt. The lights pierced the night like a star in dark and indistinct space, the eye-aching contrast alerting passers by of its existence. The low drone of commotion on the inside slowly built into a crescendo as you came nearer. The smell of something, something... unique, grabbed hold of you. Like a beautiful woman teasing you, the Casino's very presence seduced you to come inside. But in the deep recesses of your brain, you knew you shouldn't.
Isaac looked up. This was the familiar unfamiliar, the boisterous secretive. The Dragon Palace Casino, home of gamblers, ramblers, back sliders, and most importantly, the Red Ravens crime syndicate: A callous group who had set upon the galaxy like a pack of wolves, but a group with a few members that Isaac considered friends, and nearly family. He composed himself and slid through the front doors. He looked around-- not much had changed. He made his way to the lift which would take him to the executive VIP lounge, where the faction hierarchy drank and hobnobbed in semi-public. He approached the elevator when a big hand reached out and stiff-armed Issac in the chest, knocking him backwards. He looked up to see a 2 meter tall behemoth standing security. "Right, right. Let me see here..." Isaac mumbled as his hands rummaged through his pockets, trying to find security credentials. Suddenly, a voice called out his name. "Isaac, ya sunofabitch! How are you! It's been a while, huh?" It was Lars, the head of main floor security, his head poking out from around the corner. He looked at the security guard and laughed. "Go on, let him through. I'll load a new pass and send it to you." Friends in high places or something, right? "Thanks Lars, I owe you a beer" Isaac said with a grin. He looked up at the security guard, tossed him his coat, and walked into the lift.
In a few short moments and a quick walk down a corridor, Isaac found him in a dim and smoky lounge with a number of well-to-doers slinking around with drinks in their hands while others slouched comfortably in sofas. The fragrance of the room was unique to this environment. Some put on airs, some dressed to the nines, others didn't care to make any form of sartorial statement. Isaac strutted in with a well cut dark blue suit with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, a white shirt with the top two buttons undone, and a loosely done red tie. He didn't need to impress anybody today. He reached into his pocket and retrieved a cigarette, lighting it as he began to walk towards the back of the lounge.
The man who he spotted was a changed man. When Isaac first met him, he was a timid and impressionable blue man. He could tell something had changed. Of course, something had changed. The man was [member="Cryax Bane"], and he was the new president of the Red Ravens. Sat next to him was bearded man, who Isaac had never seen but who he had read about. But for now, he would play his cards close to his chest.
The Chiss's head was buried in his dataped, typing away. Isaac walked past him, patting his shoulder and then making an end around and plopping down into the seat next to him as Cyrax glanced up in the wrong direction before realizing he'd been duped by a school yard trick. Isaac reclined and threw his feet up onto the table as he threw his hands behind his head. "Surprised to see me here? What have I missed?"
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